The national sexuality education guidelines, now in its final stages of discussion, will be submitted to the cabinet and the Education Ministry soon.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil ( photo : centre ) said the guidelines were drawn in response to the public's request of the necessity to have sex education in line with the culture and moral systems in the country.

"I think one of the ways to look at the overall problem with sexual crimes is to have this book of guidelines which is produced after many meetings with experts" she told reporters after opening the consultative forum on the guidelines today in Kuala Lumpur.

The minister said the guidelines were needed at a time when sexual crimes in the country were on the increase but conceded that the ministry has exercised maximum care while drafting the 'sensitive' guidelines.

She said it was up to the Education Ministry to decide the purpose of the guidelines, whether to make them part of the curriculum in schools.

"Our job is to help them come out with a model," she said, adding that the guidelines would be used in parental courses conducted by her ministry.

The draft of the guidelines revealed to the forum consists of six chapters which explain the concepts of human development, relationships, family and marriage, self-identification skill, health and sexual behaviours, and society and culture.

Gender and sexuality

The forum today also heard mixed reactions from the participants on the elements of gender and sexuality in the guidelines.

Shanon VR, assistant secretary at policy and research division of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) said from the gender perspective, the guidelines are not friendly.

"The homosexuality part in the guidelines is a disaster. I think we have to look at this issue from the rights-based perspective," he said.

Non-governmental organisation Sister in Islam representative Shanon Shah Mohd Sidik said the definition of 'normal' sexuality is very contentious.

"Maybe you see this as abnormal, others will see this as normal. So we have to respect the right whether we see it as normal or abnormal," he said.

However, another participant expressed concerns that the points about sexuality in the guidelines could be misunderstood as an "endorsement for homosexuality and bisexuality".

Sexual Harassment Act

Meanwhile, Shahrizat revealed that the ministry has not set aside the suggestion to formulate a Sexual Harassment Act.

"We are not pushing it aside and we will continue working on it," she said when asked on the ministry's recent withdrawal from supporting the act.

The ministry had initially shown keen interest in the formulation of the Sexual Harassment Act but withdrew its support later.

She said although the cabinet has decided to reject the bill, the ministry will re-submit it when it is time to do so.

The cabinet, Shahrizat said, has suggested that the existing penal code be strengthened instead of formulating the Sexual Harassment Act now.