Latest news with #NationalPopulationandFamilyDevelopmentBoard
Sinar Daily
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sinar Daily
12-year-old Malaysian prodigy Nur Ellysha shines in voiceovers, theatre and international sports
BANGI - Nur Ellysha Rashlina Mohd Rashdan may be only 12 but she is already carving out a name for herself in the world of creative arts and sports. This Year Six pupil of Sekolah Kebangsaan Jalan Empat here has already done voiceovers and performed in a musical theatre, and is even active in sports. Nur Ellysha Rashlina Mohd Rashdan Ellysha, as she is fondly known, is no stranger to the creative arts as her father Mohd Rashdan Ramlee was actively involved in animation and production works, and was the creator of the English-language 3D animated TV series 'Supertots' and 'SuperSquad', which became a phenomenon in the early 2000s. According to Ellysha, several main characters in the animated series were named after and inspired by her and her three older siblings, making the production feel personal to the family and sparking her own interest in the creative arts. "From a young age, I was exposed to the production world as I often accompanied my mother and siblings to various events related to 'Supertots' and 'SuperSquad'. That's where I developed a love for the performing arts and the desire to try it for myself,' she said in a recent interview with Bernama. To nurture her talent in the performing arts, Ellysha began attending dance and theatre classes at the age of four, under the guidance of Noraniza Idris, who is also known as the Queen of Traditional and Creative Ethnic Rhythms. So far, Ellysha has done voiceovers for, among others, corporate social responsibility advertisements produced by the National Population and Family Development Board, as well as Covid-19 awareness campaigns by Yayasan Hasanah. She has also received other opportunities, including acting in the musical theatre 'Huminodun: Muzikal Puteri Nabalu' this year. Ellysha also excels in rope skipping and represented Malaysia in the Singapore National and Open Jump Rope Championship 2024 in various under-12 categories. "I love rope skipping because it can be done both individually and in groups. Right now, I train three to four times a week to sharpen my skills. "God willing, I will represent Malaysia in the Queen's Cup Jump Rope Thailand Open 2025 and the Singapore National Jump Rope 2025 at the end of this year,' said Ellysha, who is also a member of the Malaysia Jump Rope Federation and GB Rope Skipping Academy. Despite her busy schedule in the arts and sports fields, Ellysha remains committed to her studies and ensures her academics are never overlooked. "Sometimes it's tiring because I go to school during the day and have training or tuition at night, but I'm used to it. If you love what you do and have goals, you'll make the effort,' said Ellysha, who also serves as a peer mentor at her school. She is also the president of her school's Cultural Club. Looking ahead, Ellysha hopes to pursue her secondary education at Sekolah Seni Malaysia Perak and later further her studies in theatre arts at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris. "If we have the passion, we shouldn't be afraid to try. We must believe in ourselves and not give up easily. If we work hard, God willing, a path will open,' she said. Meanwhile, her mother Nor Haslina Mohamed, 49, said parents play a crucial role in nurturing a child's potential from an early age, including building a portfolio, providing training space and guiding them toward the right path. "Every child is different… some are quiet, some are active. If you notice their interests, help and encourage them gradually. A child's success isn't solely based on academics but also on talent development and character building. "I believe early exposure and consistent guidance are vital. As parents, we must be attentive and help our children discover their strengths,' she said. - BERNAMA
The Star
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Youth need supportive ecosystem to start families, not mere encouragement, says Nancy
KUALA LUMPUR: Family-related policies must be anchored in an ecosystem that supports the needs of the younger generation, rather than merely urging them to marry and start families, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri. 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, and the Population and Family Research Hub at - Bernama
The Sun
23-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Perlis LPPKN offers free BuAI fertility services for childless couples
PERLIS: The National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) in Perlis is urging childless couples married for at least a year to take advantage of free fertility services under the Fertility Treatment Assistance and Infertility Advocacy (BuAI) Programme. Acting director Fairee Osman @ Azmi stated that the initiative includes early fertility screening, treatment support, and referrals to LPPKN-affiliated health facilities. 'The programme aims to assist couples with household incomes below RM10,000 monthly,' he said. Despite targeting 100 couples this year, only eight have enrolled so far. Fairee emphasized the importance of early intervention, advising interested couples to visit the Perlis LPPKN office for details. The announcement followed the state-level Father's Day 2025 celebration, officiated by Wan Badariah Wan Saad, chairperson of the state Women, Family and Community Development, Unity and Environment Committee.
Barnama
23-06-2025
- Health
- Barnama
Perlis LPPKN Encourages Childless Couples To Get free BuAI Services
KANGAR, June 23 (Bernama) -- The National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) of Perlis encourages couples who are still childless after being married for a year to obtain the services provided under the Fertility Treatment Assistance and Infertility Advocacy (BuAI) Programme for free. Perlis LPPKN acting director Fairee Osman @ Azmi said that in addition to guidance and advocacy, the initiative also provides early fertility screening facilities and appropriate treatment assistance as well as referrals to health facilities under LPPKN. He said that, so far, only eight couples in the state are involved in the programme, compared to its targeted 100 couples this year.
New Straits Times
16-06-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Govt shifts focus to men in tackling low fertility rate
SEBERANG PRAI: The government is taking a more inclusive approach to address the declining fertility rate by putting the focus on men. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said that although the national fertility rate had seen a modest rise from 1.6 to 1.7 over the past year, it was still low. She said while many existing programmes focused on women, it was time to recognise that men also played a critical role in the issue. She said people often forgot that men were also part of the equation. "It is not just about women. Some fertility issues originate from the male and we need men to understand and accept this. "This year, our outreach efforts have expanded to include road shows focused on educating men. The campaign recently launched in Sabah and will continue nationwide. "It features a 'celebrity doctor' whose message is clear: fertility is not a women-only issue," she told newsmen after the launch of the Womenpreneurs - Shaping The Future Economy programme held at The Light Hotel in Seberang Jaya here. Nancy said that through public talks and awareness drives, the campaign aimed to break the stigma around male infertility and foster a more supportive, shared responsibility between partners in planning for children. "Men must look into themselves and be part of the solution. "Increasing our fertility rate is a national issue, and we need to face it together," she added. Beyond education, Nancy said the government had also been investing in fertility clinics, including IVF services, through agencies like the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), which offer assistance to couples seeking to have children. Elaborating, Nancy acknowledged that one of the issues identified for the low fertility rate was the lack of support for caregiving, a major deterrent for working adults considering parenthood. She said since last year, they had been focusing on caregiving, but there were few takers. She said there needed to be a change in culture, in how people viewed caregivers. "Many see this as being a 'maid'. We do not want people to treat caregivers as maids. "We want people to see them as professionals in their own way. By doing so, we hope to increase the numbers. "We are working to professionalise the caregiving industry, provide training, and ensure caregivers are paid fairly, so families can trust and rely on them," she said. With an ageing population expected to peak by 2030, these new approaches reflect a more inclusive vision — one where men, women, and society as a whole take shared responsibility for the future of the nation.
