Kuala Lumpur: The gaps in Malaysia’s sex education syllabus must be addressed to curb social problems among youth. Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh emphasized the urgency of this issue, revealing that data shows most teenagers become sexually active before the age of 14, yet sex education in schools only begins at the age of 15.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Yeoh made these remarks at Wisma KBS after chairing a roundtable discussion with youth leaders from various religions about tackling social issues. She stated that both the Ministry of Education and the Health Ministry have acknowledged the existing gap in the sex education syllabus and are committed to reviewing and improving it.

Yeoh pointed out that conventional approaches to addressing social problems are no longer effective. She highlighted the need for innovative strategies, stating, “We need to think outside the box in tackling youth social issues, as this is becoming increasingly complex. We will not achieve the desired outcomes by relying on outdated methods.”

In an effort to modernize the approach, Yeoh mentioned plans to focus on creating more online content and utilizing algorithms to effectively reach stakeholders. She also expressed concern about the declining participation of youth in clubs and associations, noting that only one million youth are actively involved. This trend suggests a shift in interests towards online or networking platforms, prompting the need to optimize and leverage this situation.

The discussion Yeoh chaired aimed to enable youth to build networks and engage with religious organizations and community leaders in addressing social issues. It involved representatives from 40 non-governmental organizations, youth bodies, religious institutions, and community leaders.

Yeoh also emphasized the importance of helping youth involved in social problems through rehabilitation rather than legal action. “We want the youth not to be seen as criminals because these are young people. They deserve a second chance, they deserve rehabilitation and they need to know where to get help,” she added.