It is a major issue from all over the world especailly the Asian countries about teh teen sex problems. We all in Asia are practising the Asian values, but the western values are sipped through the films and songs. Therefore, now we have lots of unmarried mothers.
Here is a report from Singapore, our neighbour.
A touchy topic gets backing of community
Counsellors, parents agree on how to tackle teen sex
By Aaron Low Jul 31, 2006 The Straits Times SEX and the teenager is a difficult and even touchy subject to discuss openly in the Malay community here.
Yet it needs to be done, say counsellors, parents and leaders in the community.
Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim noted that there are many ways teenagers can get information, ranging from the Internet and MTV to iPods and mobile phones.
'In this globalised and tech-savvy world of today, they are constantly bombarded and exposed to a wide variety of information and influences.
'Some of them may be contrary to our values and tradition,' Dr Yaacob said yesterday at the launch of a community drive to coax teenagers to say 'no' to premarital sex.
Its aim is to convince teenagers that it is better to abstain than live with the nasty and long-term consequences of giving in to the urge.
To drive home the message, posters show a girl with a bulging belly versus another with a slim figure.
To get the boys thinking about the issue are posters of a teenage boy looking at a pram and the question: 'Is this your dream car?'
The focus on the consequences, instead of relying only on religious teachings, was backed by youth counsellor Siti Rahmah, 46.
'I totally support this campaign. If the religious leaders say 'no', it may not be effective enough. But if all the people around the person say 'no' to sex, then it will be a lot more effective,' said Madam Siti, who works at Pertapis, a Muslim welfare and education organisation.
Housewife Sarimah Salleh said she found it difficult to broach the subject with her 15-year-old son.
Said the 46-year-old whose two younger children are nine and 10: 'But I will now make the effort. I realise it is important, since our children can find out these things from other sources anyway.'
Student Haikel Hussin, 18, said the struggles of his friends who became teenage fathers have convinced him of the need to abstain. Some are younger than him and they already have two children, he added.
'They regret now because some quit school, others can't do the fun things we do, like clubbing or playing football, because they have to take care of their babies,' he said.
He is among the 4,000 who support the month-long community initiative, a project that emerged last year from a meeting of Malay leaders discussing issues facing the community.
But this latest effort is just the first step in what Dr Yaacob said is a 'complex issue'.
In this initial effort, about 30,000 leaflets will be distributed to give tips to youngsters on how to resist peer pressure and where they can seek help.
Celebrities such as TV actor Aaron Aziz and Malaysian singer Amy Mastura will also give their views on premarital sex on this initiative's website.
Student Nurul Kanatasha, 14, is looking forward to the message changing the behaviour of some of her friends.
She said: 'They always talk about sex. They boast and say it's fun. When I tell them it's not right, they get angry with me. I hope this campaign will change them.'
aaronl@sph.com.sg
Here is a report from Singapore, our neighbour.
A touchy topic gets backing of community
Counsellors, parents agree on how to tackle teen sex
By Aaron Low Jul 31, 2006 The Straits Times SEX and the teenager is a difficult and even touchy subject to discuss openly in the Malay community here.
Yet it needs to be done, say counsellors, parents and leaders in the community.
Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim noted that there are many ways teenagers can get information, ranging from the Internet and MTV to iPods and mobile phones.
'In this globalised and tech-savvy world of today, they are constantly bombarded and exposed to a wide variety of information and influences.
'Some of them may be contrary to our values and tradition,' Dr Yaacob said yesterday at the launch of a community drive to coax teenagers to say 'no' to premarital sex.
Its aim is to convince teenagers that it is better to abstain than live with the nasty and long-term consequences of giving in to the urge.
To drive home the message, posters show a girl with a bulging belly versus another with a slim figure.
To get the boys thinking about the issue are posters of a teenage boy looking at a pram and the question: 'Is this your dream car?'
The focus on the consequences, instead of relying only on religious teachings, was backed by youth counsellor Siti Rahmah, 46.
'I totally support this campaign. If the religious leaders say 'no', it may not be effective enough. But if all the people around the person say 'no' to sex, then it will be a lot more effective,' said Madam Siti, who works at Pertapis, a Muslim welfare and education organisation.
Housewife Sarimah Salleh said she found it difficult to broach the subject with her 15-year-old son.
Said the 46-year-old whose two younger children are nine and 10: 'But I will now make the effort. I realise it is important, since our children can find out these things from other sources anyway.'
Student Haikel Hussin, 18, said the struggles of his friends who became teenage fathers have convinced him of the need to abstain. Some are younger than him and they already have two children, he added.
'They regret now because some quit school, others can't do the fun things we do, like clubbing or playing football, because they have to take care of their babies,' he said.
He is among the 4,000 who support the month-long community initiative, a project that emerged last year from a meeting of Malay leaders discussing issues facing the community.
But this latest effort is just the first step in what Dr Yaacob said is a 'complex issue'.
In this initial effort, about 30,000 leaflets will be distributed to give tips to youngsters on how to resist peer pressure and where they can seek help.
Celebrities such as TV actor Aaron Aziz and Malaysian singer Amy Mastura will also give their views on premarital sex on this initiative's website.
Student Nurul Kanatasha, 14, is looking forward to the message changing the behaviour of some of her friends.
She said: 'They always talk about sex. They boast and say it's fun. When I tell them it's not right, they get angry with me. I hope this campaign will change them.'
aaronl@sph.com.sg
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