Safe abortion in Malaysia

milkchocolate2579
Sep 30, 2021
4 min read

Updated: Nov 18, 2021

Questions you are too afraid to ask. There are ways to get safe abortions in Malaysia and they are legal. We have some amazing NGOs advocating for human rights for years.

Abortion can be as easy as taking a pill.

It is more common than you think

1 in 3 pregnancies in Malaysia is unplanned.
About 100,000 abortions are carried out per year in Malaysia.
RRAAM received 300-400 requests per month during MCO.

That's how common abortion is. And with Covid-19, MCO, the numbers spike up really fast too. Do note that these are the recorded ones, what about the unrecorded data.

Please opt for SAFE abortion.

While abortion being common, getting an abortion from the black market is horrifyingly more common. Unsafe abortion can put your life at risk. You can die from unsafe abortion so please opt for safe abortion. You have a choice for safe abortion.

Is abortion legal in Malaysia?

Yes it is legal to have an abortion in Malaysia.

Many don't even know it is legal and due to the stigma, keeping everything taboo is not helping. A lot of licensed doctors refuse to perform abortion and abortion pills are restricted, thus many buying from the black market (please don't, you have a choice to safe abortion). Some religions may make us think it is a sin to carry out an abortion but if you read closely abortion is permissible.

Malaysia has an abortion law, in which abortions are legal for women but with conditions. (Penal Code Section 312, amended in 1989).

to save a woman's life
to protect her physical and mental health

Abortion can be done by a doctor with a medical license. If the doctor thinks the pregnancy is risking the life of the woman. If the pregnant woman is a rape victim, abortion is legal. A woman must obtain authorization from a medical professional and abortion must take place within a legal period of 120 days.

What about LGBTQIA+ members, not all vulva owners are women, what if I don't want to report in order to get an abortion, what if I can't afford to take care of this baby, no matter the reasons, it is a human right to have access to safe abortion.

We have the right to make decisions about our bodies. We have safe abortions in Malaysia. You don't have to explain why to get an abortion.

To you,

To buy abortion pills in Malaysia, please get the actual abortion pills with Mifepristone and Misoprostol from the websites below (link provided).
DO NOT use gastric medicines as a substitute for abortion pills.
DO NOT get unsafe abortions, pills or surgery, from the black market.
DO NOT use a hanger for abortion.
DO NOT use bleach for abortion.
Do NOT go to the illegal clinic.

Abortion pills in Malaysia is relatively expensive compare to pills from over sea. Mifeprex is priced at USD45 (about RM190) on US website, while average abortion pills in Malaysia is around RM350-580. It is because the pills are still restricted in Malaysia and many NGOs are working so hard to lower the price for easier accessibility.

The black market for abortion pills is cheaper and easier to get from Whatsapp, Facebook, so many other places. But please don't get an unsafe abortion, pills or surgery, even if the Low Yat forum, Reddit all these advertisements you see on Facebook are cheaper and looks more accessible. You have a choice for safe abortion. Be safe, you are not alone in this. There is help available if you need it.

What are available in Malaysia?

surgical (vacuum aspiration)
medical abortion (Mifepristone and Misoprostol) methods AKA abortion pills

The method use depends on the length of the pregnancy. The rate of effectiveness of the drugs when combined is at 95-97%. Both of the drugs are approved by FDA.

When can I get an abortion?

Pregnancies below 9 weeks, medical abortion
Pregnancies up to 12 weeks, vacuum aspiration
Pregnancies later than 12 weeks, abortion services in hospitals

Where can I go for abortion?

For abortion pills, you can get them online from womenonweb.org and safeparenthood.org.
For surgical abortion, visit rraam.org for the list of women-friendly clinics that provide safe abortion.

How much does an abortion cost?

Abortion pill can be purchased online

80 Euro (around RM350) from Women on Web (womenonweb.org)
RM580 from safeparenthood.org.

Surgical abortions price varies.

the longer time you are in your pregnancy, the more expensive it is
medical complications you might have
you may have to travel to other states for surgical abortions

Private hospitals may charge higher than some clinics. At RRAAM,

RM800 for early pregnancy terminations
> RM4000 for second-trimester pregnancies (up to 22 weeks)

More information on unwanted pregnancy and safe abortion services in Malaysia, contact RRAAM Hotline, Whatsapp at +6018-368 7950. Hotline operates from 10am - 5pm, Monday to Sunday.