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A TOTAL of 16,951 unmarried girls aged 19 and under became pregnant between 2020 and 2024, a figure the government described as deeply concerning.
In Parliament today, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said that overall, 41,842 teenage pregnancies were documented in the same period, including cases involving married teenagers.
All figures, she said, were derived from records at government health facilities based on data provided by the Ministry of Health (KKM).
“Of that total, half involved Malay teenagers, followed by Iban at 11 per cent; Peninsular Orang Asli (nine per cent); Chinese (five per cent); Indians (three per cent); and the remainder from other ethnic groups,” she told the Dewan Rakyat.
To tackle the issue, Nancy said the ministry had intensified education, counselling and community-based initiatives. “Therefore, various efforts have been implemented by KPWKM to curb this issue, including strengthening reproductive health education, counselling initiatives and community support,” she said.
A key initiative is the National Reproductive and Social Health Education Policy and Action Plan (PEKERTI), which aims to improve public awareness of reproductive health and foster a more responsible and resilient society.
“Under this action plan, the development of skills related to positive and safe reproductive health is emphasised, whether through formal education in schools or non-formal education outside school,” she added.
Nancy was responding to a question from Mohd Misbahul Munir Masduki (PN–Parit Buntar) on the breakdown of pregnancies among unmarried teens by ethnicity and the measures taken to address the issue.
During supplementary questioning, Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodi (GPS–Sri Aman) asked whether the ministry would consider the Kelantan police chief’s suggestion that girls engaging in consensual sex with boys also face legal action.
Nancy rejected such an approach. She said that children involved in consensual sexual activity should be protected and rehabilitated, not punished.
She stressed that existing laws already deem any man, regardless of age, who has sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 to have committed statutory rape, even with consent.
“This issue needs to be viewed holistically and not solely through legal action. Personally, I believe that underage children involved in consensual sexual activity must be protected, guided and rehabilitated, not punished, regardless of whether they are boys or girls,” she said.
“Factors such as adult-level thinking and maturity must be considered, as a child typically cannot assess the consequences of their behaviour or actions.
“Particularly the long-term implications, which is why children must be given opportunities and space to learn from mistakes, heal and rebuild their lives without the burden of long-lasting stigma or trauma,” she added.
Nancy added stakeholders should prioritise helping affected minors reflect on their actions and rebuild their lives. - November 20, 2025
