ISSN: 2226-6348
Open access
This paper examines the existing legal framework for the protection of teenage pregnancies in Malaysia, with adherence to the international laws of the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Children (UNCRC) and the United Nation Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and within the principles of the Islamic laws (maqasid al-Shariah). This study was conducted primarily through a doctrinal study of existing literature such as articles, journals and reports related to the current issues encountered by pregnant teenagers. This study establishes the ongoing reforms in the domestic laws and policies in response to the ratification of UNCRC and CEDAW since 1995. Nonetheless, the absence of a comprehensive legal framework and coordinated support services for pregnant teenagers affects the smooth implementation of the currently existing laws and policies on this matter. Therefore, it is recommended that a more comprehensive legal framework and concerted services help to promote a holistic approach to strengthen the welfare of pregnant teenagers and safeguard them from unnecessary harm.
1,721 Cases of Sexual Crimes Against Children Recorded as of June 30. (2020, August 18). The Sun Daily. Retrieved July 15, 2022, from https://www.thesundaily.my/local/1721-cases-of-sexual-crimes-against-children-recorded-as-of-june-30-MA3534709.
2021 Trafficking in Persons Report – Malaysia. (2021). United States Department. Retrieved July 15, 2022, from https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-trafficking-in-persons-report/malaysia/.
Abdullah, N. I., Yunus, A., & Harun, H. N. (2017). Parliament Passes Landmark Sexual Offences against Children Bill. New Straits Times. Retrieved July 15, 2022, from http://www.nst.com.my/news/2017/04/227214/parliament-passes-landmark-sexual-offences-against-children-bill.
Al-Azhar University & United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). (2005). Children in Islam: Their Care, Upbringing and Protection. New York, USA: Al-Azhar University and UNICEF.
Azhar, A. (2013). Baby Hatch: 82 Babies so Far. Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved April 15, 2020, from http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/08/10/baby-hatch-82-babies-so-far/.
Beshir, F. H. (2012). Article 3 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child: The Best Intrest of the Child. Public Policies and Child Rights, 1-4.
Child Rights Coalition Malaysia. (2012). Status Report on Children’s Rights in Malaysia. Malaysia: Child Rights Coalition Malaysia.
CodeBlue. (2021). Rina: 28 Teens Get Pregnant Daily, 35% Unmarried. CodeBlue | Health is Human Right. Retrieved July 15, 2022, from
https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2021/12/30/rina-28-teens-get-pregnant-daily-35-unmarried/.
Don, F. H. (1999). Dasar Wanita Negara dan Pelan Tindakan Wanita. Paper presented at Bengkel Wanita dalam Pembangunan Menghadapi Cabaran pada Dekad akan Datang, Kuching, Sarawak.
Hak, N. A., & Hashim, N. M. (2009). Right of a Child to Maintenance: Harmonising the Laws in Malaysia. Paper presented at the Attorney General’s Chambers, Putrajaya, 1-8.
Haneef, S. S. S. (2005). Ethics and Fiqh for Daily Life: An Islamic Outline. Kuala Lumpur: IIUM Research Center.
Hasbullah, F. (2016) Seksualiti Remaja: Isu Dan Cabaran Keluarga Di Malaysia. Lembaga Penduduk dan Pembangunan Keluarga Negara (LPPKN). Retrieved July 15, 2022, from http://familyrepository.lppkn.gov.my/556/1/Seminar%20SEKSUALITI%20REMAJA.pdf.
Human Rights Commission of Malaysia. (2022). Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM). Retrieved July 24, 2022, from http://www.suhakam.org.my.
Kahar, R. (2010). A Study on Policies and Laws Affecting Children in Malaysia: An Appraisal of the Children’s Best Interests. Ph.D. thesis. Kuala Lumpur: IIUM Publication.
Kahar, R., & Zin, N. M. (2011). Child Related Policy and Legislative Reforms in Malaysia. International Journal of Social Policy and Society, 8, 6-36.
Kamali, M. H. (1998). Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence, 2nd ed. Kuala Lumpur: Ilmiah Publishers, 1998. 397.
Kamaruddin, Z., Ahmed, I. S., & Sulaiman, S. (2005). Education for All and Children’s Right to Education in Malaysia. Education Awakening: Journey of Educational Sciences 2(2), 1-22.
Kwan, F. (2021). 1 in 10 Children Likely to be Victim of Abuse. Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved July 15, 2022, from
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/07/16/1-in-10-children-likely-to-be-victim-of-abuse/.
Low, W. Y., Tong, W. T., Wong, Y. L., Jegasothy, R., & Choong, S. P. (2015). Access to Safe Legal Abortion in Malaysia: Women’s Insights and Health Sector Response. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 27(1), 33-37.
Malaysia: Babies for Sale. (2016). Al Jazeera English. Retrieved July 15, 2022, from https://www.aljazeera.com/program/101-east/2016/11/24/malaysia-babies-for-sale/.
Michael, S. D. (2013). Human Trafficking in Malaysia: Trends and Challenges. Proceeding of the Global Conference on Business, Economic and Social Sciences, 161-172.
Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (MWFCD) & UNICEF Malaysia. (2013). The Malaysian Juvenile Justice System A Study of Mechanisms for Handling Children in Conflict with the Law. Malaysia: MWFCD and UNICEF Malaysia.
Mohd, A., & Kadir, N. A. (2012). Protection of Children in Malaysia through Foster Care Legislation and Policy. International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanity Studies 4(1), 63-72.
National Child Policy. (2016). Department of Social Welfare Retrieved July 15, 2022, from http://www.jkm.gov.my/jkm/index.php?r=portal/left&id=VEliZUhrbWc2VC9wM3hEVWxTWVVFdz09
National Child Protection Policy. (2016). Department of Social Welfare. Retrieved July 15, 2022, from
http://www.jkm.gov.my/jkm/index.php?r=portal/left&id=TlFwUVczN0RLQ3VlRDFqRTFmVENuZz09.
Nor, A. M. (2020). The Protection of Pregnant Adolescents in Malaysia: Towards a Legal Framework. Ph.D. thesis. Kuala Lumpur: IIUM Publication.
Saim, N. J., Dufaker, M., Eriksson, M., & Ghazinour, M. (2013). Listen to the Voices of Unwed Teenage Mothers in Malaysian Shelter Homes: An Explorative Study. Global Journal of Health Science, 5(5), 20-30.
Sujimon, M. S. (1999). Implications And Consequences of Illegitimate Child (Walad AI-Zina) In Islamic Law: A Classical View. Jurnal Syariah, 7(1), 1-22.
Sulaiman, A., Jamsari, E. A., & Noh, N. C. (2015). Islamic Environment in Child Development According to the Views of Imam al-Ghazali. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 5(29), 33-39.
Su-Lyn, B. (2016). Malaysia’s Adoption Process ‘Simple’ but Wait Can Be Long, Group Says Amid Controversy. Malay Mail. Retrieved July 15, 2022, from https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2016/11/30/malaysias-adoption-process-simple-but-wait-can-be-long-group-says-amid/1261365.
Taman Seri Puteri. (2021). Department of Social Welfare. Retrieved July 15, 2022, from https://www.jkm.gov.my/jkm/index.php?r=portal/left&id=dS9TbzMvUDFmazl0aXVLOGpoRTVzQT09.
Termizi, M., Jaafar, N. I. M., Abdullah, N., Tagaranao, M. S., & Safian, Y. H. M. (2014). Comparative Study on Punishment and Preventive Methods of Baby Dumping: Malaysian Perspectives. International Journal of Technical Research and Applications, 2(1), 24-28.
UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO). (2015). Legal Protection from Violence: Analysis of Domestic Laws Related to Violence Against Children in ASEAN Member States. Bangkok: EAPRO.
UNICEF Malaysia. (2020). Child Marriage in Malaysia. Retrieved July 15, 2022, from https://www.unicef.org/malaysia/media/1801/file/Child_marriage_brief_factsheet_%28ENG%29.pdf.
United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, International Bureau of Education (UNESCO IBE). (2011). World Data on Education, Malaysia Principles and General Objectives of Education. World Data on Education, 7th Ed., UNESCO IBE, 1-32.
Women’s Aid Organisation, CEDAW & Malaysia. (2012). Malaysian NGO Alternative Report Assessing the Government’s Progress in Implementing CEDAW. Selangor: Women’s Aid Organisation.
Yunus, A., & Carvalho, M. (2017). Laws on Sexual Offences against Children Tabled. The Star. Retrieved July 15, 2022, from
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/03/28/sexual-offences-bill-tabled.
Yusof, M. I. M., Hilmy, N. M., Razali, H. Y., & Jody, J. M. (2015). Social Stigma of Incest in Malaysia. International Academic Research Journal of Social Science 1(2), 112-117.
Zain, N. H. (2016). Outcomes of Pregnancy among Unmarried Mothers in Malaysia. Ph.D. thesis. Kuala Lumpur: Universiti of Malaya.
Zin, N. M., Hak, N. A., & Mahmud, M. W. (2016). The Right of Illegitimate Child to Paternity under Malaysian Islamic law: A Revisit. Issues on Harmonization of Human Rights in Islam. Kuala Lumpur: IIUM Press. 99-118.
In-Text Citation: (Nor et al., 2022)
To Cite this Article: Nor, A. M., Zin, N. M., & Soh, R. C. (2022). Legal Framework for The Protection of Teenage Pregnancies in Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 11(3), 1447–1466.
Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s)
Published by Human Resource Management Academic Research Society (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode