Condoms are levied with the goods and services tax (GST) which took effect since April 1, 2015 when they should be tax-free to encourage usage.

Our education system can teach all about sex education and the dangers of rampant sex, yet it is idealistic to assume that better sex teaching is the only way forward.

Let’s face it. We can promote to young adults about sex abstinence but sometimes it is a futile effort in their teenage years, with hormones raging and the world of sexual exploration to be discovered.

Making condoms cheaper would encourage usage as a better means to prevent unwanted pregnancies and minimising sexual transmitted diseases such as the dreaded HIV viral infection.

There is no cure for HIV infections and once a person is infected, the patient has to undergo a life-long daily regime of drug cocktails to reduce the virus load to a minimum. Some other sexual-transmitted diseases are difficult and costly to cure.

Practising safe sex is the more practical approach when condoms are within financial reach of a wider section of the population.

Making condoms more expensive will do little for a person with sexual desires. Some are willing to take the risk when it comes to sex and do away with condoms out of ignorance or irresponsibility.

Making condoms GST-exempted is a wise move in dealing with abandoned babies, sexual diseases and the spread of HIV infection.

At the end of the day, dealing with unwanted babies and treatment of transmitted diseases relating to sex is a bigger problem for the public health care to solve.

As a rubber producing nation, condoms should be subsidised to make them cheaper to encourage usage as sometimes cost is a barrier to safer sex. There should not be a stigma relating to safe sex with cheap condoms.