SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government will be launching an “anti-zina” (anti-illicit sex) campaign at the end of the month in the wake of the recent baby-dumping cases.
State exco Halimah Ali said the campaign, aimed at Muslims, will be launched by state-sponsored organisation Generasi Idaman Selangor (Gems). Its purpose is to create public awareness of the problem, especially the youths who “accidentally got pregnant”.
“We also want those who end up up pregnant (out-of-wedlock) to be given shelter and protection until their illegitimate babies are delivered,” she said when the announcing the campaign here today.
Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, who was also present, said there was no need to introduce sex education as part of the campaign.
“As far as Gems is concerned, there will instead be discussion on the proper conduct for intimacy,” he said.
Meanwhile, Halimah said that sex education is being taught in schools, adding that seeking a solution to baby-dumping is more important.
“But if you are talking about sex education as taught in the West, we are not using that approach yet.”
Halimah said sex education is not a “100%” answer to baby-dumping. Instead, an “overall solution” is needed.
On the campaign, she said one of its objectives is to help find adopted parents for illegitimate babies.
“We do not want youths who got pregnant (illegitimately) taking desperate measure by abandoning the babies. We hope everyone in Selangor, especially the local leaders, will look at the matter in a positive light.
“We also hope that with this campaign, youths will think twice about it (getting pregnant out of wedlock) and stay away from it,” she said, adding that the campaign will also provide a rehabilitation programme for the youths.
“This way, those who are saddled with this social problem will have a second chance to lead a more productive life later,” she said.
With the rising incidents of baby-dumping, Malacca too has taken action by setting up a school for pregnant teens to combat it.
Recently, CID chief Bakri Zinin was reported to have said that widespread access to pornography and “weakened family ties” have led to an increase in baby-dumping cases in the last five years.
But women groups countered, saying the youths are ignorant about sexual issues.-FMT
