DAPSY Malaysia

DAPSY Penang fully support the proposal to introduce sex education into regular school curriculum. One of the main objectives is to nurture young people to understand, and therefore respect their own sexuality and the sexuality of the opposite gender. On the other hand, facts and knowledge about sexual activity could also empower our young people against sexual predators and the negative consequences of unprotected sex.

The dismal results of Malaysians in the survey on sex-related matters reported by the press recently is just another indicator of the urgency of the issue. A Home Ministry’s statistics indicated that there was a 300% increase of rape cases from 2007 (1241 cases) to 2008(4959 cases). This is an extremely critical situation and given that most cases involved victims and perpetuators who know each other, including dating couples, sex education such as knowledge related to respect and responsibility in regards to sexual relationship may help to prevent many of the cases.

On the other hand, young women who were usually most victimized in cases of unwed pregnancies must be supported, especially to finish schooling if they are still in school. The Government must play a more proactive rather than punitive role in providing counselling and support to single parents.

The case of 25-year old single parent Nurhanim Aziz whose 3-year old daughter was brutally murdered by her boy friend warrants our attention. This is not the first time such case happened, the abuse and even murder of the child of a single mother by her spouse. A lot of single parents especially young mothers found themselves in dire situation and had to depend on their new found male friends for support and in turn were abused by them.

The Government, especially the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry must set up programs to assist single parents to be independent and self-sufficient to take care of themselves and their children. These programs, financed by the Government, can be run by established NGOs who have a lot of experience in this area. In this area, the Federal Government can emulate the programs of the Penang State Government such as the Women Service Centre and the Child Care Centre which was set up to provide services such as counselling, temporary shelter, legal advise and child care services to women in crisis and parents from low income families.

Steven Sim

Treasurer
DAPSY Penang