The Ministry of Youth and Sports said it is concerned and aware of the rise in homosexuality among young professionals as reported by the local media.

Deputy Minister Ong Tee Keat said the ministry is monitoring 'unhealthy' activities such as 'loafing, drug abuse and homosexuality' among the youth.

"However, we do not have data or information about those involved," Ong said during a question-and-answer session in Parliament today.

Ong was responding to a question by Seripah Noli Syed Hussin (Umno-Sepang) who asked the ministry to reveal the extent of homosexuality and lesbianism among Malaysian youths.

The practice is said to be rampant among professionals and elites in urban areas and has tarnished the image of the Malaysian community, she said.

Ong replied that the ministry will continue to find ways and means to solve these social problems.

Encourage good values

Many activities are carried out to deal with the problem, such as encouraging good values in youths, he said.

This was done, he added, by organising activities such as sports, motivational, recreational and counselling courses to instil self-confidence.

The Health Ministry said during the question-and-answer session that the government had spent more than RM2 million in anti-smoking activities throughout the country since 1999.

The ministry's parliamentary secretary S Sothinathan said these activities include yearly anti-smoking campaigns such as 'World No Tobacco Day' on May 31.

The campaigns comprised exhibitions, talks, public forums and media announcements, he said.

"However, although the amount allocated (RM2 million) for such activities can be considered huge, it cannot compete with promotion budgets of giant cigarette companies which find it easier to attract public attention compared with health messages issued by the ministry," he said.