Close Cooperation Required In Tackling Social Ills Among Youth

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Social ills among the country’s youth require close cooperation between the community and the government to prevent them from spreading, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.

He said that based on last year’s statistics, rape and incest cases involving adolescents have increased, with 252 cases reported compared to 206 in 2023.

“Even more worrying is that nearly 91 per cent of these cases occurred with mutual consent between underage teenagers.

“The sharp rise in rape and incest cases among minors is very alarming. If left unchecked, the country may face a severe social emergency that could destroy the future of the younger generation,” he said here today.

Mohd Na’im said this at the launch of the 2025 national-level Social Awareness Roadshow (J-KIS), which was also attended by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) director-general Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee.

On the issue of depression among youths, Mohd Na’im said that if not addressed, it could lead to serious consequences, including contributing to suicide cases.

He said records showed that such cases increased to 1,087 in 2023 from 981 in the previous year.

At the same time, Mohd Na’im expressed the hope that the J-KIS programme launched today, and similar initiatives, could be expanded to create a lasting impact on society.

Meanwhile, Sirajuddin said the J-KIS programme is aimed at enhancing knowledge and awareness among youths on social issues through engaging sessions.

Among the sessions organised were ‘Jiwa Kacau: Kongsi atau Pendam?’,’Mengurus Medsos’, ‘Anda, Dakwah & LGBT’ as well as ‘Pengantunan Seksual (Sexual Grooming)’, presented by experts and experienced speakers to over 800 participants.

“This programme is in line with the government’s aspirations through the Islam Mekar di Bumi Malaysia (Islam flourishes in Malaysia) framework, which emphasises holistic, integrity-driven, and responsible human development in driving the country’s progress,” he said.

The J-KIS programme is organised by JAKIM in collaboration with several agencies, including the Ministry of Education, Federal Territories (Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya) and Selangor Education Departments, and the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP).

-- BERNAMA