Looks as if Malaysians youngsters don't know much about SEX!!

Malaysia considers teaching sex to graduates

By JULIA ZAPPEI – 1 hour ago

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's government is worried that high school graduates may not know enough about sex.

Authorities in the conservative, Muslim-majority nation are considering teaching sex education to teenagers when they undergo national service after leaving school, Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil, director general of the National Service Department, said Wednesday.

Ng Yen Yen, the minister who announced the proposal, was quoted by the national news agency, Bernama, as saying that sex education, including lectures about preventing AIDS, could shield youngsters from unhealthy activities. Ng's aide confirmed the minister made the comments Tuesday.

Tens of thousands of boys and girls who are typically 17 or 18 years old are selected at random each year to participate in the government's national service training.

The three-month mandatory program aims to instill discipline and patriotism through community service, military-style physical training in jungle camps and other activities.

Sex is often a sensitive subject in Malaysia, where unmarried couples can be fined for kissing and hugging in public.

The Cabinet approved guidelines to teach sex education in schools two years ago, but activists say it has not been implemented. Officials had suggested teaching students how to protect themselves from sexual predators, reckless behavior and sexually transmitted diseases.

Adeeba Kamarulzaman, president of the Malaysian AIDS Council, said Wednesday that students receive inadequate information about sex in public schools, which generally only teach basic facts about reproduction during science courses.

Sex education classes in national service could prove useful because many school teachers are too embarrassed to expound on sex-related topics, she said.

"Better late than never," Adeeba told The Associated Press. "It's a good opportunity. They are at the right age to be receiving this kind of education."

Wednesday May 14, 2008

Sex education for NS trainees

KUALA LUMPUR: Sex education and the dangers of HIV and AIDS will be among several new courses to be introduced under the national service (NS) training programme starting October.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also chairman of the Cabinet Committee on the NS Programme, had agreed to this.

“The new courses are part of the four new modules which have also been approved for implementation under the life skills management programme,” she said after officiating the Siemens Run 2008 here yesterday.

She said several non-governmental organisations would help in implementing the new courses, aimed at preventing youths from getting involved in unhealthy activities.

She said the new modules would include youth development and management.

Meanwhile, Dr Ng said the ministry had sent letters to Pasir Mas MP Datuk Paduka Ibrahim Ali and Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin to express regret over the statements they made in the Dewan Rakyat which had offended disabled people.

She also hoped that all MPs would be more sensitive and careful when making statements that touched on disabled people.

“From the replies received, it seems that they have accepted the matter in a positive manner,” she said.

Some 30 disabled people from the Malaysians Against the Discrimination of the Disabled movement demanded that the two MPs apologise over the statements uttered in a heated exchange with DAP chairman Karpal Singh, who is wheelchair-bound.

Ibrahim had apologised to the disabled but not to Karpal. – Bernama