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REASONS WHY ABORTION REMAINS A LEGAL TABOO IN MALAYSIA

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REASONS WHY ABORTION REMAINS A LEGAL TABOO IN MALAYSIA

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Malaysia is one of the few Muslim-majority countries in the world where it is legal to get an abortion. Despite this, many women and those with birthing bodies still face a multitude of barriers that prevent them from terminating an unwanted pregnancy.

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Social stigma is the disapproval of, or discrimination against an individual or group based on perceived characteristics that serve to distinguish them from other members of a society.

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2. FLAWS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTHCARE

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2. FLAWS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTHCARE

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The difference between access to abortion in rural and urban areas also plays a major role in preventing women from getting the help that they need when faced with an unwanted pregnancy. According to Dr Rosvinder Sigh, Head of Disease Surveillance Division for The State Health Department of Kuala Lumpur & Putrajaya, many general practitioners lack the appropriate equipment to confirm the gestation period of pregnancy and to perform an abortion.
He also said that more can be done in terms of educating medical students on abortion to provide Malaysians with better services from the get-go. An overburdened public healthcare system also means that not enough funds are being channeled towards providing abortions to women who need them, resulting in patients being transferred to private clinics where the price for the procedure can skyrocket beyond what many people can afford. Besides, Dr Subatra explained that patients might face invasive questions from healthcare professionals that have little to do with the actual abortion, such as queries about their marital status. If a patient requests termination of pregnancy for the sake of mental health, Dr Subatra said that it’s not uncommon for doctors to say no to the person due to differing views on what constitutes a negative impact on mental well-being. “I’m not going to wait for a patient to attempt suicide before diagnosing a mental health condition,” she said, adding that many of her clients come to her displaying clear signs of anxiety and distress over an unwanted pregnancy.

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"You can’t prevent young people from having sex but you can teach them to minimise unwanted pregnancies"

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Sex education in Malaysia is failing to empower young people with the knowledge to protect themselves and make informed decisions for their well-being, said Sharifatul.
“We cannot ignore sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) education and comprehensive sex education which in Malaysia is always related to morality and abstinence.
Dr Subatra echoed her statements, arguing that sex education cannot afford to be politicised if the government hopes to protect the lives of young people.
She recalled how an 18-year-old client of hers was initially unaware that a woman could get pregnant at the age of 17.
“It’s not her fault, because we have an entire generation growing up not knowing about their bodies and how to protect themselves.
“Politicians like to say that we are advocating for sex education because we are teaching people how to have sex.