A total of 16,951 unmarried teenagers aged 19 and below were reported pregnant at government healthcare facilities in Malaysia between 2020 and 2024, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the total number of teenage pregnancies during the same period, including married teenagers, reached 41,842. About half of the cases involved Malay teenagers, followed by 11% Iban, 9% Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia, 5% Chinese, 3% Indian, with the remainder from other ethnic groups.
Nancy highlighted that efforts to address teenage pregnancies include reproductive health education, counselling, and community support. Key initiatives include the Reproductive and Social Health Education Policy and Action Plan (Pekerti), which promotes safe reproductive health practices and aims to build a responsible and resilient society through both school-based and community programmes.
She added that the ministry provides support via the KafeTEEN Youth Centres and the KafeTEEN Friends Programme in schools. These initiatives offer guidance, reproductive health services, and psychosocial counselling to foster positive physical, mental, and social development. The programme includes 18 Youth Centres, a mobile van, and peer educator training in 143 secondary schools in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
Nancy also noted that a new National Family Policy and Action Plan will be launched to strengthen families, improve family planning, and enhance parental and teenage roles. She emphasized that addressing unmarried teenage pregnancies requires collective effort from all parties to secure a better future for youth.
On statutory rape and consensual sexual activity among minors, Nancy said children should be protected, guided, and rehabilitated rather than punished, regardless of gender. She stressed the importance of helping children learn from mistakes and recover without stigma, highlighting that laws and programmes focus on intervention, protection, and rehabilitation.
“The issue cannot be addressed by legislation alone,” she said. “It requires raising awareness, strengthening family institutions, and building community values. Every adult has a responsibility to guide and protect children. Under no circumstances should children be exploited.”
