Malaysians are now becoming sexually active from as young as 17, according to a recent survey. In 2001, the age was 20.

Particularly alarming is the admission by young Malaysians that they have had unprotected sex with a new partner in the last 12 months.

The Durex Global Survey 2004 also found that Malaysian men are more sexually active than women and, on average, they have had five partners.

Only those aged 25 and above said they have been careful when engaging in sex - 36 percent of Malaysian men engage in unprotected sex, compared to 32 percent of women.

Asked if they had received formal sex education, 30 percent of the respondents said they had not and were unanimous on their stand that it is the government's responsibility to educate the public.

Globally, 350,000 people were interviewed for the survey. It covered 8,202 Malaysian respondents aged between 16 and 55. Ninety percent were between the ages of 16 and 34.

While the survey certainly makes for interesting reading, it also serves as fodder for those genuinely concerned about arresting the problem of unsafe sexual activity and its repercussions for youth especially.

Sex education

To begin with, a large number of our youngsters say they have no conception of what is involved in sexual activity. They therefore indulge in a 'trial by error' approach to find out.

Some pay the price when they contract sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like HIV/AIDS, syphilis and gonorrhoea.

Young women, including teenagers, are led to abandon babies because of lack of support or knowledge on how to deal with the responsibility.

Underpinning this serious situation is a single question exactly what is holding up sex education in school?

Merely talking about reproductive organs is not enough to educate curious youngsters who want to understand issues linked to safe sex and reproductive health.

The survey findings have merely scratched the surface. The truth is that an increasing number of young people are getting involved in relationships that include sex either because of pressure from their partner or due to their interpretation of how love should be expressed.

As schools turn a blind eye to matters pertaining to sex, however, they are left to their own devices to figure out how to deal with reality.

Passing the buck

There is no point preaching abstinence. Instead, more effort should be made to get across the message that unprotected sex could jeopardise health.

Schools and non-government organisations should educate students on importance of using condoms and on refraining from having multiple sex partners.

Issues relating to homosexuality should no longer be swept under the carpet. Those involved should have equal access to information on safe sex.

The government, through its newly set up cabinet committee on gender equality, should determine the steps needed to educate all Malaysians on safe sex.

Let it not be the case where we end up losing young Malaysians to STDs, all because of unwillingness to bring sex education to the forefront and discuss the issue with maturity.

Malaysians should be told in no uncertain terms that a contraceptive barrier is all that stands between them and STDs or unwanted babies.

JJ RAY started her career with a mainstream publication. A non-conformist, she soon saw the barriers that went up whenever, through her writing, she tried to make the world a home for one and all.