Marriage to counter low birth rate, ageing society

KUCHING: The government is encouraging marriage as part of its efforts to increase the country’s birth rate.

Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri expressed concern that the nation is on the brink of becoming an ageing society, with studies indicating that 15 per cent of the population will be elderly by 2030.

Despite recent statistics showing that the rate of unplanned pregnancies in 2022 was at 33 per cent, she noted that the fertility rate remains alarmingly low at 1.6 births per couple.

As such, she assured that various programmes are being planned by her ministry to boost the country’s population.

“While some married couples choose not to have children, you never know if one day they might see cute kids and then decide they want to have children.

“They have the right to choose (not to have children), but as a responsible government, we must implement numerous programmes and activities to raise awareness that marriage is important.

“We are fulfilling our responsibility as Malaysian citizens. We do not want the population to decline. So, for those studying at universities, seek out partners early and get married, and subsequently have children,” she quipped.

She told the media this after officiating at the closing of the Sexual Health Awareness and Health programme at Kampung Sourabaya Ulu here today (August 10).

On the same note, Nancy emphasised that the challenges faced by married couples in conceiving are not solely the responsibility of women, saying that men can also experience fertility issues.

Thus, she said that the government, through the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), has initiated various programmes to assist couples in having children.

“Additionally, we have a subfertility laboratory,” she added.

While acknowledging that Sarawak recorded 940 cases of teenage pregnancies from January to June this year, Nancy lamented that existing programmes have been insufficient in helping parents and teenagers address this issue.

She suggested that programmes should be designed to make it easier for the public to understand related matters, providing face-to-face explanations that are more personal.

“We need to conduct further programmes.

“Although we have the National Social Council chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, other relevant ministries also need to raise awareness among youth about safe sex.

“This is a responsibility we all share,” she stressed.