Geshina Ayu Mat Saat said the prevalence of such activities and incidents was more linked to issues like the need for proper upbringing, good education and adherence to one’s faith.
“It is simplistic to blame western films for not only sexualised lifestyles but also for all social ills,” she told FMT.
The Forensic Science Programme lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) said although exposure to such films did play an important role in shaping human behaviour, it was not the only factor that influenced one’s actions or values.
On Monday, Khairuddin Aman Razali, the PAS MP for Kuala Nerus, claimed in the Dewan Rakyat that the government had failed to play a proper role in censoring western movies that contained obscene sexual content.
He said the films had an unhealthy effect on local youths as they promoted the idea that premarital sex was normal.
As a result, he said, there was an alarming corresponding rise in incidents of teenage pregnancy and childbirth out of wedlock in Malaysia.
Khairuddin said the depiction of open sexual behaviour in films was changing people’s mindsets without them realising it.
“Films that show bedroom scenes have become common. Having children before getting married is also now common and cohabitation before marriage is seen as normal.”
Geshina said although the number of films that have sexual content was high, there were still many movies which did not promote “negative” behaviour.
She said not every teenager watched western films and that Asian flicks also displayed violent, criminal or immoral attitudes and actions.
Sociologist Denison Jayasooria admitted that movies and pornographic materials did have an impact on youths, including on ideas about sexual relations.
The research fellow at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia said there should be stronger sex education and awareness as it was natural for young people to respond sexually to explicit content.
“Greater guidance is needed.”
He said parents and adult leaders who imposed religious and ethical restrictions on youngsters without open discussion often did not help.
“We need more open discussions to recognise that this is natural but, at the same time, encourage young people to make a personal commitment to refrain from sex before marriage.”
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/11/29/rising-teen-pregnancies-child-marriages-worrying/