KUALA LUMPUR: Experts and parents were alarmed by the findings in the Institute for Public Health's National Health and Morbidity Survey 2022: Adolescent Health Survey.
IKRAM Health Malaysia president's President Dr Mohd Afiq Mohd Nor said he was concerned about the high number of adolescents engaging in sexual activities, at 75 per cent out of 154,646 adolescents, attributing the issue to exposure to the Internet and easy access to pornography.
"The rising number of sexually active adolescents is also due to low awareness on sex education. In secondary schools, students only cover basic elements in biology class.
"More than 150,000 adolescents engaging in sexual activities is quite high. Adolescents should not engage in sex at that age. It is below the legal age.
"Adolescents do not know what is wrong and right yet.
"Therefore, sex education in schools is important."
On alcohol consumption among adolescents, social activist and crime analyst Kamal Affandi Hashim said the youth were influenced by external factors, including friends and family.
"They observe their friends (drinking alcohol) and they think they can get away with it. They also learn how to dispose alcohol containers discreetly.
"Having parents who drink alcohol also exposes them to alcohol and makes them think it is normal," he said, adding that parents should teach children at an early age about the negative effects of alcohol.
"This builds their confidence for when they are challenged by their peers."
A 46-year-old father, who did not want to be named, said he was worried about the trend on alcohol consumption among adolescents.
"I believe parents have a big influence on their children's behaviour. Parents are role models."
He said another factor was the influence of peers who pressured youth into unhealthy habits at an early age.
He believed parents must have good communication with their children and educate them about the risks and consequences of drinking alcohol.
"You must be more involved in your children's lives and educate them."
A mother of two, who wanted to be known only as Azuanis, 53, said bullying among adolescents was disturbing.
"These children bully others because they want to hide their own weaknesses. They lack education on bullying and empathy."
She said bullies became more prone to preying on others when they could hide their identities online.
"Social media ethics are not usually taught by parents or schools."
She said she was concerned about parents' lack of guidance on their children's social media activities.
"Young children are becoming more tech savvy. Even the young know how to use social media now. It is a concern when parents do not monitor their children's social media activities as they can be a platform to pick up bad habits.
"Children may also use social media as an outlet to release their stress, leading them to bully others online as a coping mechanism.
"We need to instil empathy in our children, observe their online activities and be aware if our children are victims of bullying."