Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Malaysian parents should register the sex of babies born with both male and female sexual organs as "unclear," a news report said Wednesday.

Abdullah Mohamad Zin, a minister for religious affairs, was quoted by national news agency Bernama as saying parents should take time to observe whether their hermaphroditic child has stronger male or female tendencies.

"Don't register the child as a male because if the baby grows up with female tendencies, it will be difficult to change the gender," Abdullah was quoted as saying during a debate Tuesday in Parliament.

Abdullah said he was informed by the health ministry that such babies could be cured through hormone injections and counseling.

No details were given on the number of hermaphroditic babies born in the country. The medical condition, in which people are born with both ovarian and testicular tissue, is rare worldwide.

Abdullah and other ministry officials could not be reached for comment.