KOTA KINABALU: Sex education, awareness on unplanned pregnancies, baby dumping and getting rid of stigma surrounding the matter should be emphasised to both men and women.
Sabah MCA Women's chief Dr Pamela Yong (pic) said this was not just women's problem, but a collective issue that needed to be tackled and addressed by everyone.
Commenting on recent baby dumping cases in the city, she said these matters should not be viewed as a morality issue plighting young girls.
"We need to view it as an issue that is a by-product of our society's failure to acknowledge or our ignorance about sex in our children's world and their generation," she said.
"Our outdated, narrow viewpoint of sex when it comes to our children – clouded by our personal religious convictions which dictate public health and education policies over proven and pragmatic approaches on the issue of sexual reproductive health education – is part of the crux of the problem," said Dr Yong.
She said that there were several ways to look into this, including one where the role of family institutions and parents of young Malaysians were crucial in addressing the issue of baby dumping.
She said it was also important that the youth (both males and females) were educated on safe sex and underage sex.
Dr Yong also said it was time for the government to introduce sex education in schools for all students so they understand the implications and responsibilities of pregnancies, as well as create more awareness on the use of contraceptives.
Two baby dumping incidents were reported in the city this month.
One was on a stillborn baby boy found behind a cistern at a homestay at Jalan Kepayan on Nov 6 and another one on Nov 5 where a newborn baby girl was abandoned at a mosque on Jalan Maktab Gaya, Luyang.
