Kuala Lampur, Oct. 23 -- The government needs to speed up the decriminalisation of suicide attempts so that better data and help can be provided for those seeking death, Dr Lee Boon Chye said in Parliament today.

The deputy health minister said the government is hoping to relaunch the National Suicide Registry (NSR) next year, but faced hurdles in developing it due to laws that make taking one's own life a crime.

"Prior to the registry being developed, we need to decriminalise suicide. This must be the first step, because if we do not decriminalise sucide, suicide cases will be underreported, and the registry won't be accurate and incomplete," he said in the Dewan Rakyat, in response to Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.

The NSR was intr...