12/02/2026

THURSDAY | FEB 12, 2026

3 Over 21,000 teen pregnancies recorded since 2019

327 criminals killed by cops in 11 years A TOTAL of 327 criminals were shot dead by police in Malaysia between 2015 and 2025, involving 193 separate cases, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said yesterday. In a written reply on Feb 10, Saifuddin said the figures were based on statistics issued by the police covering fatal police shootings over the 11-year period. He said the police gunfire incidents occur under operational threat situations. “Generally, fatal police shootings occur in situations involving the suppression of dangerous criminals and self-defence when suspects act aggressively and attack officers using dangerous weapons, protection of public safety especially when suspects refuse to surrender and other situations requiring swift action based on the threat assessment at the scene.” Saifuddin was responding to Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong), who sought the number of fatal police shooting cases since 2015, broken down by nationality, race and states where the incidents occurred and the number of officers subjected to legal action. The annual breakdown of cases, according to the statistics presented, was – 2015 (21), 2016 (32), 2017 (23), 2018 (26), 2019 (16), 2020 (8), 2021 (11), 2022 (6), 2023 (5), 2024 (25) and 2025 (20). By nationality, Malaysians formed the largest group of those shot dead at 172 individuals. Among the Malaysian suspects, Indians recorded the highest number at 78, followed by Malays (43), Chinese (40) and Bumiputera (11). Other nationalities were Indonesians (68), Vietnamese (24), Filipinos (23), Myanmar nationals (7), Africans (3), Bangladeshis (2) and Thais (1), while 27 individuals were unidentified. Meanwhile by states, Selangor recorded the highest number of cases at 47, followed by Sabah (33), Penang (21), Johor (19), Perak (16), Kedah (13), Kuala Lumpur (10), Kelantan (9), Sarawak (8), Negeri Sembilan (7), Melaka (4), Terengganu (3), Pahang (2) and Perlis (1). Saifuddin said no police officers had faced legal action in relation to fatal police shootings during the period. – By Faiz Ruzman ‘New History curriculum to be rolled out next year’ THE Education Ministry will begin rolling out a new History curriculum next year, starting with Year One and Form One, with the syllabus to be expanded to Year Two and Form Two in 2028 as part of its phased national curriculum cycle. Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said the revised curriculum would be introduced in stages, replacing the current framework once its implementation period ends. “The current curriculum will be implemented for a certain period and when that period ends, we will introduce the new curriculum.” Wong assured lawmakers that the History syllabus would remain balanced and free from political influence, amid concerns raised in the House over potential politicisation of curriculum content. “To ensure that our History curriculum remains relevant, we will make sure that the curriculum and its content are balanced and free from any political direction.” His remarks came in response to a supplementary question by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda–Muar) who urged the government to exercise caution when revising History curriculum content. Wong added that curriculum reviews would be conducted based on necessity, including for specific subjects or learning areas. – By Faiz Ruzman

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o Govt ramps up reproductive health education, counselling and family support to curb rising social issues

widow/widower pass or to apply for an entry permit, subject to stipulated conditions. “In divorce cases involving Malaysian citizen children, the foreign spouse may be considered to apply for an entry permit or a resident pass, allowing them to continue living and working in Malaysia to safeguard the child’s welfare, custody rights and overall wellbeing.” He further clarified that policy refinements have expanded LTSVP eligibility to include foreign husbands or wives, widows, widowers and spouses who have been subjected to mistreatment, while also reducing the minimum marriage duration required to apply for an entry permit from five years to three years, subject to holding a social visit pass for at least one year. – By Faiz Ruzman The reply was in response to Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff (PN–Rantau Panjang) who sought updated statistics on youth social issues, including out-of-wedlock teenage pregnancies, from 2019 to 2025. Nancy said other initiatives include introducing Pekerti programmes at higher education institutions, expanding implementation at the community level and increasing advocacy and promotional activities related to reproductive and social health education. She added that her ministry provides support services for youths through KafeTEEN youth centres and the Sahabat KafeTEEN school programme, an initiative by the National Population and Family Development Board to provide safe spaces, guidance and education to foster positive physical, mental and social development. According to the minister, youth support accessibility has been expanded through 18 KafeTEEN centres, a mobile KafeTEEN truck, community outreach programmes, reproductive health clinic services and psychosocial counselling. The programme has also trained peer educators under KafeTEEN clubs in 143 secondary schools, in collaboration with the Education Ministry. Nancy said the government will also launch a new national family policy and action plan to strengthen family institutions and social stability with a focus on improving family planning capacity and reinforcing the role of parents and adolescents. “Efforts to address the issue of out-of-wedlock teenage pregnancies should be collectively mobilised by all parties to ensure a more secure future for the younger generation.”

PETALING JAYA: More than 21,000 unmarried teenagers aged 19 and below were recorded as pregnant at government health

facilities between 2019 and 2024, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry revealed in a written Dewan Rakyat reply on Feb 10, underscoring persistent social challenges among youths.

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intensifying efforts to curb teenage pregnancies through stronger reproductive health education, counselling initiatives and community-based support programmes.

responsible and resilient society. “Under the action plan, the development of positive and safe reproductive health skills is emphasised through both formal education in schools and non formal education outside the school setting. “Integrated inter-ministerial efforts related to pekerti (moral character or virtues) are coordinated through the National Social Council platform.”

AT THE DEWAN RAKYAT

“One of the initiatives is the action plan on the development of the Reproductive and Social Health Education Policy, aimed at increasing awareness on the importance of reproductive health

Its minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the data, obtained from the Health Ministry, was disclosed in response to concerns over rising social issues involving young people. She said the government is

Nancy says her ministry provides support services for youths through youth centres and the Sahabat KafeTEEN school programme, an initiative by the National Population and Family Development Board. – BERNAMAPIC

More than 55,000 Malaysians with foreign spouses A TOTAL of 55,458 marriages involving non-Muslim Malaysians and foreign spouses were needs of those left behind. As such, foreign widows or widowers may be considered for a

Saifuddin was responding to Tan Hong Pin (PH–Bakri), who sought statistics on the top five countries of foreign spouses marrying non Muslim Malaysians from 2019 to July 2025, and improvements to the rights of foreign spouses to better support family livelihoods. As part of welfare-driven improvements, the government allows LTSVP holders to apply for a work endorsement through the Immigration Department, assessed case-by-case basis, including security screening, background checks, job type and compliance with immigration and labour laws. Saifuddin added that approval is conditional and renewable in line with the validity of the marriage, with special immigration considerations in cases involving death or divorce. “In cases where a Malaysian citizen spouse has died, the government acknowledges the humanitarian and family welfare

women. Singapore accounted for 8,802 marriages, comprising 5,910 Singaporean men and 2,892 Singaporean women. Thailand recorded 5,186 marriages, all involving Thai women, while Indonesia recorded 4,263 marriages, also entirely involving Indonesian women. Saifuddin said immigration policies affecting foreign spouses remain governed by the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963. “Under Regulation 11, foreign spouses of Malaysian citizens are eligible to apply for a long-term social visit pass (LTSVP) under the category spouse of citizen, which allows them to reside legally in Malaysia for family unification purposes. “In principle, the LTSVP does not provide automatic permission to work as the purpose of the pass is family-based residence and not employment.”

registered between 2019 and July 2025, according to a written Dewan Rakyat reply from the Home Ministry. The figures, its minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said, were based on records from the National Registration Department (NRD) under the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 (Act 164). According to the presented records, the five countries that account for 36,066 of the 55,458 marriages recorded during the period are China, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. China leads the number with the highest recorded figure at 9,195 marriages, involving 3,030 Chinese men and 6,165 Chinese women marrying Malaysians. Vietnam followed with 8,620 marriages, all involving Vietnamese