Youth need supportive ecosystem to start families, not mere encouragement, says Nancy
She said many young people wish to marry and raise families, but are hindered by factors such as cost of living, unstable employment, limited access to childcare and uncertainties about the future.
"The solution lies in creating a supportive ecosystem - not in simply encouraging them to start families immediately," she said in a statement in conjunction with World Population Day 2025 on Friday (July 11).
Nancy said population issues must be viewed as a present-day crisis that requires inclusive and progressive policy action, in line with demographic shifts and the expectations of the younger generation.
Malaysia's current total fertility rate stands at 1.7 children - well below the replacement level of 2.1 - while birth rates dropped by more than 11% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year.
This year's World Population Day, themed "Empowering Young People to Create the Families They Want in a Fair and Hopeful World," underscores the importance of listening to and addressing the needs of the younger generation.
The ministry, through the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), remains committed to raising public awareness on population-related issues, including reproductive health rights, demographic shifts, family wellbeing and sustainable development.
To this end, the ministry is focusing on implementing comprehensive strategies to support family planning among youth, including subsidies under the Infertility Treatment Assistance and Advocacy (BuAI) programme for 1,300 eligible couples, improved childcare facilities and more flexible parental leave.
The highlight of the national-level celebration for World Population Day 2025 will take place on July 21 at Lanai Kijang, Bank Negara Malaysia, in collaboration with the Department of Statistics Malaysia, Universiti Malaya and the United Nations Population Fund.
In addition, state-level celebrations will be held throughout July and August via seminars on population and family-related topics, organised by LPPKN state offices in collaboration with strategic partners nationwide.
Further information on World Population Day 2025 is available at LPPKN's official website, www.lppkn.gov.my and the Population and Family Research Hub at https://mprh.lppkn.gov.my. - Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
17 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Miri comes alive as thousands celebrate Sarawak Day with Unity Walk
Unity Walk participants filling up the Miri Stadium from as early as 5am. – Photo by Cindy Lai MIRI (July 22): A vibrant crowd of over 8,000 people from diverse racial and religious backgrounds came together in a powerful show of harmony and solidarity during the Unity Walk held in conjunction with the Sarawak Day celebration at Miri Stadium today. Clad in yellow Sarawak-themed attire, participants began gathering as early as 5am, transforming the stadium grounds into a vibrant mosaic of unity beneath the rising sun. The minister in charge of this year's Sarawak Day celebration, Sarawak Transport Minister, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, was present with his wife Datin Kong Shui Lin to welcome the crowd. The walk was officially flagged off by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi. Together with other dignitaries, they waved the Sarawak flag in a rousing launch of the event. Wan Junaidi (seventh left) joined by Lee (sixth left) and other dignitaries flagging off the Unity Walk. – Photo by Cindy Lai Also present were Deputy Premier and Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian; State Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah; Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Law, State-Federal Relations and MA63) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali; Deputy State Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Sebastian Ting; Deputy State Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil; Deputy State Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat; Deputy State Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Rosey Yunus; and Deputy State Secretary Datu Hii Chang Kee. Prior to the walk, the crowd participated in a lively warm-up session led by an energetic instructor, with upbeat music setting the tone for the day. At around 7am, Tun Wan Junaidi and other dignitaries led thousands of Sarawakians out of the stadium in an orderly procession. The Unity Walk route took participants along Jalan Sukan and Jalan Kipas, past Masjid At-Taqwa, then continued through Jalan Parry and Miri City Fan before looping back via Jalan Bintang to Miri Stadium. miri sarawak day Unity Walk
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Rising cost of living delays youth marriages, says deputy minister
KUALA LUMPUR: The increasing cost of living has become the primary reason many young Malaysians delay marriage and starting families, according to Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad. She cited a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report stating that nearly one in five adults across 14 countries may not achieve their desired family size due to financial constraints. 'Of this group, 39 per cent cited financial constraints as the main barrier, including the cost of living, childcare, housing, and job insecurity. This is where our responsibility lies, to listen, understand, and act,' she said during the 2025 World Population Day celebration. To address the issue, the government has introduced initiatives such as maternity and paternity leave, childcare subsidies, and financial aid for low-income families. Awareness programmes on reproductive and family health are also being conducted. Malaysia's fertility rate has declined to 1.7 children per woman, below the replacement level of 2.1. Noraini noted that only 93,500 births were recorded in the first quarter of 2025, an 11 per cent drop compared to the previous year. 'These numbers are not just statistics; they represent a growing urgency for effective policies, support systems, and public awareness,' she said. The government is implementing the Fertility Treatment Aid and Infertility Advocacy Programme (BuAI), aiming to assist 30,000 couples by 2025. Additional programmes like PEKERTI, SMARTSTART, and Kafe\@TEEN are also being expanded to promote family planning and reproductive health. This year's World Population Day celebration has been extended to the state level, engaging over 5,000 participants. The event also featured the launch of UNFPA's State of World Population 2025 report, highlighting global fertility challenges and opportunities. – Bernama
Barnama
a day ago
- Barnama
Cost Of Living Main Reason Youths Delay Starting Families
KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 (Bernama) -- The pressure of the rising cost of living is the main factor why many youths choose to delay marriage and start a family, even though the desire remains, said Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad. According to a report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), she said nearly one in five adults across 14 countries acknowledged that they may not be able to have the number of children they desire. 'Of this group, 39 per cent cited financial constraints as the main barrier, including the cost of living, childcare, housing, and job insecurity. This is where our responsibility lies, to listen, understand, and act,' she said in her speech at the 2025 World Population Day celebration here today. She said the government has implemented various initiatives to help young couples build families in a more stable and structured environment, including providing maternity and paternity leave, childcare subsidies, financial assistance for low-income families, as well as organising awareness programmes on reproductive and family health. Commenting on Malaysia's declining fertility rate, currently at 1.7 children per woman, which is below the population replacement level of 2.1, Noraini said the government is implementing the Fertility Treatment Aid and Infertility Advocacy Programme (BuAI), targeting 30,000 couples by 2025. 'In just the first quarter of 2025, only 93,500 births were recorded, a drop of more than 11 per cent compared to the previous year. These numbers are not just statistics; they represent a growing urgency for effective policies, support systems, and public awareness,' she said. In addition, she said family and reproductive health education programmes such as PEKERTI, SMARTSTART, and Kafe@TEEN are also being implemented on an ongoing basis. 'These efforts are part of a holistic, inclusive and youth-friendly approach. We want young people to start their families in a stable environment, supported by relevant policies and surrounded by hope, not worry,' she added. Meanwhile, Noraini said this year's World Population Day celebration has been expanded to the state level with various programmes involving more than 5,000 participants throughout July and August.
