These figures were part of 152,182 illegitimate babies recorded nationwide from 2008 to last year, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Heng Sai Kie said.
She cited consensual sex among teenagers, influence by peers and limited knowledge of reproductive and sexual health as the main reasons that contributed to the problem.
“We also think that getting little attention from parents, viewing pornographic material, lack of religious upbringing and molest by family members could be among the contributing factors,” Heng told Datuk Mohd Jidin Shafee (BN–Setiu) during question time yesterday.
She added that statistics from the National Registration Department showed that the number of babies born out of wedlock had risen from 46,822 in 2008 to 52,378 in 2009 and 52,982 last year.
Mohd Jidin had asked the Government to state the number of illegitimate children recorded since 2008 to 2010, the factors for babies born out of wedlock and measures taken to reduce the social problem.
Heng said the ministry had established six centres to help those between 13 and 24 to get counselling and clinical help on sexual reproductive matters.
“Through our outreach programme, we have approached some 257,147 teenagers and carried out 4,698 activities from November 2005 to September this year,” she said.
To a question whether any action could be taken against those who gave birth to illegitimate babies, Heng said that only Muslims could be prosecuted under the Syariah Criminal Act 1997 (Federal Territories).
However, those caught having sex with or without consent of a girl aged below 16 would be prosecuted for rape, Heng said.
“For men above the age of 18, he can be jailed for five to 20 years with caning, while those under 18 but above 10 years old will be sent to Tunas Bakti or Henry Gurney schools.”
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