Recently, the Ministry of Health Tweeted out steps you can follow if you know someone at immediate risk of self-harm or suicide. Step one? Call 999. The Tweet received massive pushback, with many wondering if it’s safe to call 999 when suicide is still considered a crime in Malaysia. We discuss this, as well as why it’s important to decriminalise suicide.

If you are, or know someone facing personal problems or contemplating suicide, you can contact the 24-hour Befrienders hotline at 03-7627 2929 for help, or you can send an email to sam@befrienders.org.my. You can also head to befrienders.org.my for more information. You can also try contacting Talian Kasih at 15999.

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