Kuala lumpur: Termination of pregnancy in Malaysia is permissible only under specific conditions outlined in Section 312 of the Penal Code, as reiterated by Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Lim Hui Ying. She emphasized that abortions are allowed if a qualified medical practitioner determines that continuing the pregnancy poses a risk to the life or health of the woman.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Lim addressed statements from various parties regarding her response to a supplementary question raised by Dr. Siti Mastura Muhammad, the Member of Parliament for Kepala Batas, during an oral question session in the Dewan Rakyat. Lim clarified that while abortion is fundamentally a criminal offense under the Penal Code [Act 574], specific exceptions exist. Section 312 allows registered medical practitioners to perform abortions if they believe the pregnancy endangers the woman's life or could harm her physical or mental health.

The Deputy Minister further explained that her comments were specifically in response to a question about illegal abortion services nationwide. She acknowledged that her previous statements might have led to confusion, as she did not explicitly mention the exceptions provided under Section 312 during the parliamentary session.

Lim also clarified that her intention was not to negate the legal exceptions for abortion but to highlight the legal framework. She noted that misinterpretations might occur, especially if her comments were viewed from a different angle, and suggested that some reports might not have fully captured the essence of the situation.

She reiterated the commitment of the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to respect the existing legal framework and valued the perspectives of all parties. Lim expressed hope that her clarification would dispel any misunderstandings regarding her statement and the legal stance on abortion in Malaysia.