Kuala lumpur: Social ills among the country’s youth require close cooperation between the community and the government to prevent them from spreading, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar. He highlighted that based on last year’s statistics, there has been an increase in rape and incest cases involving adolescents, with 252 cases reported compared to 206 in 2023. Alarmingly, nearly 91 percent of these cases involved mutual consent between underage teenagers.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Na’im emphasized the urgent need to address this sharp rise in cases among minors to prevent a potential social emergency that could jeopardize the future of the younger generation. He made these remarks at the launch of the 2025 national-level Social Awareness Roadshow (J-KIS), also attended by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) director-general Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee.
Addressing the issue of depression among youths, Mohd Na’im noted that if left unaddressed, it could lead to severe consequences, including contributing to suicide cases. Records indicate that such cases increased to 1,087 in 2023 from 981 in the previous year. He expressed hope that the J-KIS programme and similar initiatives could be expanded to create a lasting societal impact.
Meanwhile, Sirajuddin explained that the J-KIS programme aims to enhance knowledge and awareness among youths on social issues through engaging sessions. These sessions include ‘Jiwa Kacau: Kongsi atau Pendam?’, ‘Mengurus Medsos’, ‘Anda, Dakwah and LGBT’, and ‘Pengantunan Seksual (Sexual Grooming)’, presented by experts and experienced speakers to over 800 participants.
The programme aligns with the government’s aspirations through the Islam Mekar di Bumi Malaysia (Islam flourishes in Malaysia) framework, focusing on holistic, integrity-driven, and responsible human development to drive the country’s progress. The J-KIS programme is organized by JAKIM in collaboration with several agencies, including the Ministry of Education, Federal Territories (Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya) and Selangor Education Departments, and the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP).