The Health Ministry is backing the push to decriminalise suicide, says Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

At present, anyone who attempts to commit suicide and act towards doing it faces criminal prosecution under Section 309 of the Penal Code, where they can be punished with a jail term of up to one year or they can be fined, or both.

"Decriminalising suicidal acts would help shift the efforts to preventing suicide in Malaysia.

"It would encourage...