Cabinet Minister Wants Sex Education Introduced

SUNGAI SIPUT, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- A cabinet minister is urging the government to quickly introduce sex education in schools, a move she said would curtail rising unwanted pregnancies in Malaysia.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil argued that Malaysian children need sex education as "most young people do not know the risks of having sex".
"So the time has come for us to make sure that sex education is introduced in schools so that they are aware of the consequences of having sex," she said.
Shahrizat added: "These youngsters need help and guidance. So I think we cannot delay (the introduction of sex education) anymore."
The Malaysian government has been reluctant to introduce sex education in schools fearing a backlash from the conservative rural population.
Shahrizat also said was advocating for sex education to be taught in school because the Malaysian society always blamed young women when they got pregnant outside marriage.
"This (unwanted pregnancy) is not the problem of young women alone. This is also the problem of the family and the society.
"But everytime an unmarried girl got pregnant, the society would blame her. This is not fair. That is why we should have sex education in school," she argued.
She added that gender bias in Malaysia also contributed to rising cases of baby dumping among unmarried girls. She reiterated that baby dumping is a crime which tantamount to murder.
"Those who know of any unmarried girls who are pregnant should inform the welfare department so that these girls can be given protection and help," she said.