KUCHING, Nov 10 — Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri today emphasised growing concerns over rising cases of teen pregnancies, underage marriage, baby abandonment, and unsafe abortion.
Citing data from the Health Ministry, she noted that 44,263 teen pregnancies were recorded over the past five years, 17,646 involving unmarried teens.
“From 2019 to 2023, Sarawak alone registered 9,258 teen pregnancies, of which 5,627 were among unmarried teens.
“In Sarawak, high rates of teenage pregnancy are partly linked to customary laws that permit underage marriage, and there has yet to be an amendment raising the minimum age of marriage for girls to 18,” she said.
The Santubong MP shared these insights at the Sarawak edition of the Advocacy Forum on Reproductive and Social Education for Parents today.
She stressed that conversations about sex should no longer be treated as taboo or sensitive, as parental or societal hesitation to address reproductive health would only increase curiosity among teens.
“In today’s globalised world, teenagers face new challenges, including external cultural influences, unlimited access to information, and pressure to conform to shifting social norms,” she said.
The forum on reproductive and social health education, which drew around 200 participants, aimed to equip parents with the knowledge to support the growth and social integration of teens.
— Bernama
