National policy under review to enhance family institution

KUCHING: The National Family Policy is currently being reviewed to enhance its focus on the family’s crucial role in socio-economic development.

Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the aim is to build a strong and prosperous family institution.

As part of this effort, she assured that family programmes and initiatives will be strengthened to instill noble values in line with the principles of Malaysian democracy.

“The importance of a prosperous, healthy and resilient family institution is emphasised as a crucial element in ensuring social stability, in line with the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognises the family as the fundamental unit in society,” she said.

She was officiating at the state-level National Family Month at Darul Hana Mosque, Petra Jaya, here today (Nov 26).

Photo: Ramidi Subari

On the same note, Nancy said on Nov 3, the Cabinet had confirmed that the National Family Month Celebration will become an annual event for all government agencies at the federal and state levels in November.

This decision, she noted, provides a new mandate to the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) as the leading agency for family welfare in the country.

“The implementation of the National Family Month Celebration contributes to the strengthening of family welfare. It is measured through the Family Well-being Index (IKK), which is one of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) and the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).

“The IKK study initiated since 2011 shows an increase in the well-being score of the Malaysian people from 7.55 to 7.93 in 2022.

“The LPPKN has conducted four series of IKK from 2011 to the present, with a score approaching the target of 8.0 out of 10 by the year 2025,” she added.

Nancy emphasised the importance of everyone’s role in contributing to the best IKK score through eight family domains, including family relationships, economy, health, safety, community involvement, religion and practices, housing and environment and communication technology.

Also present were LPPKN chairperson Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim and Pantai Damai assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rahman Junaidi.