In Malaysia, world’s major condom producer, safe sex is an uncomfortable topic

Sex education remains a tricky subject in the conservative country, even though it is home to the planet’s largest manufacturer of condoms

While a Malaysian start-up has launched the world’s first unisex condom, contraception use is lower in the country than elsewhere in Asean

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A worker packs condoms at the Malaysian condom-maker Karex Industries headquarters in Port Klang. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:00am, 24 Dec 2021

When freelance IT professional Saiful Nizam Abdul Wahab, 42, was growing up in Malaysia, he recalls learning about sexual reproduction during religious and science classes.

But the lessons were not “comprehensive or holistic”, Saiful said, as they did not cover all aspects of sexual relationships such as consent and mutual respect.

He believes education authorities and religious authorities in the Muslim-majority country should advocate the importance of sex education as it is vital to give “good” early guidance to youngsters, who are exposed to a range of influences online and in the mass media.

Parents can also have honest conversations with their children, he said.

“In general our community, especially the Malay-Muslim community, is not used to talking about sex openly,” he said.

Good guidance “can guide the child from making mistakes and … possibly making wrong decisions later in life”, said Saiful, who is the father of Ain Husniza, a 17-year-old student who made headlines in April after calling out on TikTok a teacher’s joke about rape.

Ain and Saiful are facing a defamation lawsuit brought by the teacher and have filed a counterclaim against him and education officials.

In Malaysia, world’s major condom producer, safe sex is an uncomfortable topic

Sex education remains a tricky subject in the conservative country, even though it is home to the planet’s largest manufacturer of condoms While a Malaysian start-up has launched the world’s first unisex condom, contraception use is lower in the country than elsewhere in Asean

Sex education remains a tricky subject in the conservative country, even though it is home to the planet’s largest manufacturer of condoms

While a Malaysian start-up has launched the world’s first unisex condom, contraception use is lower in the country than elsewhere in Asean