PN MPs ask to categorise LGBT group as 'mental patients'

KUALA LUMPUR - Perikatan Nasional (PN) members of parliament (MP) have asked for the government to categorise the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) group as 'mental patients'.

PN Kapar parliamentarian Dr Halimah Ali was debating the Mental Health Act (Amendment 2023) Bill in Parliament before Jamaludin Yahya (PN-Pasir Salak) intervened and proposed that the group be considered to be suffering from mental illness.

"Kapar, do you agree with Pasir Salak, who wants to suggest that LGBT groups should also be classified as people with mental health problems?" Jamaluddin said this during the debate on the Bill to amend the Mental Health Act 2001 in Parliament today.

Dr Halimah ended her speech after her debate, agreed to the suggestion, and requested that the Parliament include the statement in the Hansard.

"Insert that in my speech," she said.

Earlier, she said the mental health issue in the country is a major problem for the youth, and the government must overcome it.

"There is a large percentage, and I agree that not only the Health Ministry but all relevant ministries should sit together to tackle the issue thoroughly and holistically to address the problems of those with this mental issue that could lead to them taking their own lives," she said.

In its first reading in April, the Mental Health Bill (Amendment 2023), among others, enabled officers to intervene with those attempting to commit suicide.

The bill amending the Mental Health Act 2001 (Act 615) that was tabled by the Law Minister, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman, The crisis intervention officer may exercise powers under subsection (2) to break any door or window within premises and enter, or forcibly enter premises and any part of the premises to forcibly remove any obstruction to the entrance.