PUTRAJAYA, Feb 10 — Putrajaya must obtain approval from Islamic authorities before proceeding with its plan to introduce sex education in secondary schools next year, the federal Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) said today after PAS claimed it would lead youths to pornography.
Jakim director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha claimed that the federal Islamic agency’s approval is needed for all government policies.
“Any of government’s policies would need to be referred to Jakim first, or a Jakim representative needs to be in the committee,” Othman told reporters here.
“We are confident of it,” he added, when asked whether the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will refer to Jakim before drafting the sex education module.
Yesterday, PAS ulama wing information chief Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said the ministry should introduce “Islamic sex education” and teach abstinence instead.
“KPWKM’s decision will cause more harm as young people will use sex education to justify surfing pornography websites,” Mohd Khairuddin said in a statement, using the Malay abbreviation for the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.
Mohd Khairuddin added that young people must be taught abstinence until they reach the age of sexual maturity or adulthood, especially those who are not yet able to marry.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim reportedly said that sex education will be introduced in 2016 for boys aged 16 years and above to increase awareness on reproductive and sexual health topics.
