Cover image via Malaysiakini
The past few decades have seen Malaysians complaining about the questionable state of the local education system, with many concerned about the lack of substance in the syllabus
Recently, a large group young local [doctors](http://says.com/my/news/1000-graduates-give-up-on-medical-career-because-of-poor-english) quit their medical profession over their inability to properly communicate in English, despite the fact that the education system requires students to learn the global language for a good 11 years, in both primary and secondary school.
Lack of importance to the English language and standards of the syllabus have been questioned many times in the past, with the Education ministry constantly assuring that with every new education blueprint, solid changes are being made to improve the system.
Image via Malay Mail Online
In the latest argument against the education system, a shelter for pregnant teens have expressed disappointment over a compulsory read for Form Four students, "Pantai Kasih", claiming that it has inappropriate sexual contents
"Pantai Kasih" tells the story of a group of wealthy doctors and the trials and tribulations they face while working at a local private hospital
The novel's main character, Dr Raiha is described as a passionate, young, intelligent doctor who is battling the demons of her past and the sudden loss of her young daughter.
While for most part of the novel, the story just revolves around the struggles of the main characters, there is an excerpt describing a passionate "sexual" encounter between the leading lady and her husband.
Page 56 of the Pantai Kasih novel, detailing the excerpt about the sexual encounter
Image via Wee Hing Thong
According to Hazlina, the teenagers at Darwa claim that students usually learn about sex by watching pornographic videos with their peers in class, in the absence of teachers
However, Parent Action Group for Education (Page) chairperson Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim thinks that the novel could be an effective way to educate students on sex and dealing with such taboo issues
Meanwhile, local author Raiha Bahaudin urged the education ministry to be more selective with the kind of content they use in school syllabus and to not promote books that portray women in a bad light
Speaking against such "lewd" romance novels, Raiha noted that there are one too many books like in the market and that most of the authors are women.
"Maybe some will say I feel slighted because the main character in that steamy scene shares my name. Maybe. But please. Be more judicious in your writing.
"The fact is, those who write such stories that place women in demeaning positions are mostly women themselves," said Raiha in an open letter, signing off as a "worried mother and writer", as reported by Malaysiakini.
