Teenagers should seek help if pregnant — DPM

KUALA LUMPUR: Teenagers who “have gone all the way” and realise they have gotten pregnant, need not be afraid to seek help from the authorities and the community to solve the problem, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Dr Wan Azizah who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said everyone makes mistakes and must find a way out when faced with a problem.

“Go seek help. This is not the end of the world. We all make mistakes in our lives. You should come forward. People are willing to help you.

“In fact, we have counsellors in schools to advise teenagers who are facing problems,” she said when met by reporters after opening the fourth International Fiqh and Muzakarah Conference at the Institut Sosial Malaysia here yesterday.

Wan Azizah was asked to comment on the case of a teenage girl who reportedly died while giving birth to a baby boy in the toilet of her home in Taman Kerian Permai, Parit Buntar, Perak, on Sunday.

The victim, who had locked herself in the toilet since 8.30am, was found unconscious by her mother at about 2pm after she broke down the door.

The teenager and the baby were confirmed dead at the scene.

Commenting further, Dr Wan Azizah said the ministry was awaiting more information from the police to assist the victim’s family.

“This is a police case. I have requested for more details.

“We must find out the root cause. I am sad such tragic incidents are still happening.

“That is the reason why we need to have better (sex) education to cover all aspects so that such situation will not recur,” she said. — Bernama