Malaysia will introduce sex education in schools next year, as part of efforts to combat sex crimes and Internet porn, reports said today.

Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said sex education would start from pre-school level, where children are aged between four to six, and would extend to university level and community programs for adults.

Children from the age of four would likely be taught how to protect themselves from sexual predators while older kids will learn about a range of subjects from human reproduction to masturbation and safe sex.

"We are faced with various forms of sexual crimes: Internet pornography, incest, pre-marital sex, sexual abuse and harassment and paedophilia," Hishammuddin was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times .

He said these issues were expected to be addressed by the guidelines for the program, which are to be launched in February following cabinet approval.

Hishammuddin said the guidelines may also tackle "new phenomena such as indecent elements in the Internet" and other once-taboo subjects.

"Other issues related to the rampant social ills should be taken into account in our effort, such as rape, incest, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and child abuse," he said according to the Bernama news agency.

A radical shift

Rather than being taught as a separate subject, aspects of sexuality education would be included in school subjects such as Islamic studies, health, science and biology, he said.

"It is related to family institution, the role of the parents, religious values, approaches related to new developments such as Aids, indecent elements in the Internet and how it would affect our children."

The move to introduce sex education into schools and the community marks a radical shift for Malaysia, where sex remains a taboo subject despite it being one of the Islamic world's most developed countries.

"If we can ensure the guideline is understood, community leaders... can not only influence certain parents and family units but also change the society's perception, that this matter is serious," Hishammuddin said.