MIRI: The current trend of women living with foreign boyfriends without marrying them has resulted in a drastic rise in children born out of wedlock nationwide.
Chairman of Sarawak National Parenting Association, Wan Zain Syed Mohdzar, told The Borneo Post yesterday that many young women were duped by their foreign boyfriend’s sweet promises.
Wan Zain said it was becoming a trend for many young Malaysians to leave their families behind and live with their boyfriends outside marriage.
“The result is that some of them gave birth to children out of wedlock. As the parents are not legally married, it is difficult for their children to be registered as citizens,” he added.
Wan Zain, who is also a social activist, said furthermore most of the men take the easy way out by fleeing the country to avoid being responsible for the child.
“Sadly, these women will be left alone with the children and most of them suffer from emotional stress,” he noted.
He said this issue was getting serious, hence he advised parents to watch over their children to avoid it happening.
“I also urge the people to work hand-in-hand to weed out immoral activity in their community by lodging reports with the local authorities or Islamic Council,” Wan Zain said.
Doing this will reduce the number of children born out of wedlock and also protect the local women, he added.