KUALA LUMPUR - Deputy health minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni told the Dewan Rakyat today that children who were sexually groomed have been identified as key contributors to the homosexual lifestyle.
He said data showed it begins as early as the age of 20 years old providing an image that it may have happened in the early teen ages.
"This meant that it had begun during their schooling periods.
"I have seen such issues as grooming becoming the reason why children or teenagers are forced to choose such an unhealthy lifestyle.
"We must work together with NGOs to always prepare awareness programmes to curb this issue," he said on Thursday.
He said so when answering an additional question from Wan Razali Wan Nor (PN-Kuantan) who asked about the government's strategy to overcome the HIV issue based on the target groups identified by the ministry as the highest infections were recorded among homosexuals.
Lukanisman commented on Selangor State Mufti Department's ban on the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) towards homosexual couples to overcome HIV and said the Health Ministry is holding an engagement session on the matter.
"From what I see, we (health ministry) can't deny the PrEP from the risk groups.
"I think it is much better for us to prevent those at risk from spreading HIV amongst partners, the community, friends and even acquaintances," he said.