One article contained in the recently issued Government Regulation (Peraturan Pemerintah or PP) Number 28 of 2024 concerning Health has sparked controversy and concerns.
In Article 103 Paragraph 4 Point E of the Government Regulation Number 28 of 2024 concerning Health, the provision of contraceptives among school-age children and adolescents is instructed for the purpose of reproductive health improvement. After this regulation was issued, several parties have expressed their opposition against the regulation, believing that the distribution of contraceptives aimed at teens is inappropriate and could end up sending the wrong message.
The Head of the Nahdlatul Ulama Branch Management in Pidie Jaya, Ikhwani, remarked that the provision of contraceptives among teens could backfire and corrupt the children’s moral virtues instead.
“[The new regulation] will create the perception that sexual behaviour is acceptable and can be overcome with prevention mechanisms alone — without considering moral and cultural aspects in Indonesia,” Ikhwani told the press on Monday, the 12th of August, underlining that, instead of providing contraceptives, reproductive health education and religious education in schools would be more appropriate.
Meanwhile, the Dakwah Commission of the Central Indonesian Ulema Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia or MUI) is still reviewing Government Regulation Number 28 of 2024.
“There are concerns that this [regulation] could end up legalising adultery,” said the Head of the Dakwah Commission of the Central Indonesian Ulema Council, Ahmad Zubaidi, to the press on Sunday, the 11th of August. “We are reviewing it. God willing, there will be an official response from MUI soon.”
Zubaidi also underlined that the government must deliver a clear explanation to the public to make sure that the recently established policy would not be a gateway to adultery among teens in the country.
“Our intention is to prevent extramarital sex, to maintain reproductive health among adolescents. However, this [regulation] can actually lead to free sex instead,” added Zubaidi.
Previously, the Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Mohammad Syahril, had explained the nuance within the Government Regulation Number 28 of 2024 through an official statement on Wednesday, the 7th of August. Moreover, Syahril also wished for the public not to misinterpret the intention of the regulation.
“The provision of contraceptives is not intended for all teens, but only for the ones who are already married with the aim of delaying pregnancy when the prospective mother is not ready [to have children] due to economic or health problems,” Syahril stated.