KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 555 children and teenagers in Selangor have been reported pregnant out of wedlock within just nine months since the beginning of this year, reports said.
Malay daily Kosmo! reported that these included children who were pregnant as young as 10 years old.
Based on the Selangor health department statistics, a total of 799 teenagers were pregnant out of wedlock last year.
Selangor Women's Development and Social Welfare Committee chairman Anfaal Saari said the issue reflected a serious social breakdown among teenagers in the state.
At the Selangor state assembly meeting yesterday, she said out of the 555 cases, three involved children and teens aged between 10 and 14.
"Records also show that there were 157 cases for teens aged 15 to 17 and 385 cases involved those aged 18 and 19.
"The Selangor state government views this issue seriously especially when it comes to those aged under 18," she said as quoted in the report.
She was responding to a question from Mohd Shafie Ngah (PN-Sungai Ramal) who asked about the latest statistics on pregnant teens.
Anfaal said to overcome the problem, the state government had conducted child protection advocacy programmes this year, jointly organised by the Welfare Department, state education department, the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
"This programme aims to increase awareness and knowledge among children on their safety and protection against sexual harassment.
"There have been 12 series of the programme, including 11 held in schools in all state districts, and another at the children's activity centre at the Hicom People's Housing Project," she said.
She added that the 'Kasih Keibupaan Digital' programme was also held to expose parents to knowledge and skills which would help them educate their children on safe digital technology usage.
"There were 10 series of programmes held in the state and about 300 participants joined in."