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Monday, 28 June 2010

Parents should guide children to prevent child mothers

The Star
by TAN SIN CHOW and IAN MCINTYRE

GEORGE TOWN: Parents should realise the importance of sex education and give their children guidance to avoid unwanted pregnancies, said MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

“Youths and teenagers are confused and cannot differentiate between love and physical lust. Most of the time, they are misinformed as they can easily source for information online.

“With the right education, children will become responsible. We must not presume that all the teenagers are aware of their actions,” she told reporters during the 2010 Convocation ceremony for the Penang UTAR branch campus here.


Dr Ng was commenting on The Star’s report that teenage pregnancy was on the rise.

She added that the public must understand that sex education does not mean encouraging teenagers to have sex.

“It will educate the students to be more responsible,” she said.

Dr Ng added that it was important to look at the issue in an objective manner and not blame teenage girls for getting pregnant.

“We have to find ways and means to educate our children on the issue. Parents must give them support and help in whatever ways they can.”

She said that as a medical practitioner, she had seen many tragic cases of underaged girls getting pregnant in the 70s.

“They were either chased out of their houses or villages. They were ostracised. It was tragic,” she said.

State Youth, Sports, Women, Family and Community Develop-ment committee chairman Lydia Ong Kok Fooi said sex education was needed to arrest the increasing trend of young girls getting into trouble.

“I believe the reported cases are just the tip of the iceberg. Many do not report teenage pregnancies, particularly in rural areas,” Ong said after launching the inaugural Penang Durians Masters bowling championship at the Penang Bowl here yesterday.

Wanita MCA secretary-general Chew Lee Giok said there was a need to review the present education system to emphasise on preventive measures to the social problem.

“They are still very young and should be given a chance to move on without any stigma.”

Wanita MCA, under its Wanita MCA Women and Children Aid Bureau, has 31 centres to help women and children in distress.

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