THE setting up of a school for married pregnant teenagers was raised in the House. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the school was part of the strategies mooted by the Malacca Islamic Religious Affairs Council on May 18. Another proposal is to allow teenagers to marry. Mohd Ali said the rationale behind the proposal was to avoid sexual misconduct by legitimising teenage couples’ relationships through marriage.

“This is to prevent it from becoming a sexual misconduct (maksiat) and legitimising it is better than prohibiting it,” he said, adding that counselling would be provided. He noted that having sexual urges is part of human nature but the matter becomes a social problem when it results in teen pregnancies and baby-dumping. He noted that 112 rape cases were recorded here last year with 40 cases reported between January and June. Only one baby dumping case was reported last year. However, there have been three cases up to June. “Most of the rape cases were actually suka-sama-suka (consensual sex),” he said.

Ab Rahaman Abd Karim (Pantai Kundor-BN) got the House in stitches when he suggested that the school should have its own uniform, logo and motto. “The motto could be something like Anak Dikandung, Ilmu Dijunjung (Upholding Knowledge While Pregnant), he said. Last Friday, Mohd Ali announced the setting up of the school to curb baby dumping.

AT THE MALACCA STATE ASSEMBLY

Thursday July 29, 2010

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/29/nation/6756861&sec=nation