KUALA LUMPUR -- Conservative mainly Muslim Malaysia is to introduce sex education in schools for the first time, with topics to range from pre-marital sex to homosexuality and masturbation.

Under the plans approved by the cabinet, sex education will start for pre-schoolers from the age of four up to teenagers and young adults, according to the ministries for education and women, family and community.

Subjects will also include rape, sexual abuse, abortion, infanticide and the spread of HIV/AIDS, the ministries said.

"This action is needed so that society, especially the youth, are given accurate and detailed information to curb these social ills," they said in a statement Thursday.

The ministries said they had developed a sex education guidebook incorporating the topics that was written after consultations, which started in July 2002.

"The guidebook was published to impart knowledge to all Malaysians from various age groups to think positively in life by absorbing good and honorable social values," they said.

The move to introduce sex education into schools and the community marks a radical shift for Malaysia, where sex remains a taboo subject despite it being one of the Islamic world's most developed countries.