WE, the Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM), refer to the letter “Sex ed empowers our young” (The Star, July 2, online at https://bit.ly/2xGqSfE). We applaud the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry for taking action to implement sex education for young people, and Dr Kamal Kenny for explaining so eloquently the need for a holistic system of sexual health and reproductive health rights, which encompasses education and healthcare.
We have heard and seen firsthand how lack of sex education has impacted the children and youth of this country. Sexual abuse, child grooming and teenage pregnancies are social issues that have made headlines consistently. Misconceptions about the urgent need for sex education persist, and the unnecessary controversy arising from these only permits such social issues to continue.