The government has no plans to introduce an additional subject on sex education to schools as the current curriculum is sufficient, said Deputy Education Minister Chong Sin Woon.

He says the ministry does not want to burden schoolchildren with too many subjects.

However, he said NGOs are welcome to teach this subject to students.

"We welcome any NGO that wants to increase awareness of children on sex education, so they can protect themselves.

"If they have any campaign, any good programmes, they can write to the school," Chong told reporters outside the Parliament lobby today.

He added that NGOs were also welcome to write to the ministry and suggest how sex education in schools can be improved.

Critics have said that sex education in Malaysian schools are severely lacking and do not prepare Malaysian youths to deal with matters such as contraception, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Meanwhile, Chong said the ministry is also looking into the recent spate of sexual assaults on schoolchildren.

“We have received an increasing number of such reports. In fact, there was an incident that happened in Kulai this morning."

He said schools have been instructed to tighten security.

The MCA Youth chief also discouraged parents from sending their children to school too early in the morning.

“Do not leave your children alone in the dark… wait for more schoolchildren to arrive before dropping them off," he said.