POPULATION AND FAMILY

POLICIES IN MALAYSIA
Dato’ Dr. Siti Norlasiah Ismail
Director General
National Population and Family Development Board

National Population Conference on the Inter-Relationship Between

Population Dynamics and Development
Palm Garden Hotel, IOI Resort, Putrajaya
26 June 2014
Malaysia Demographic Trends

Evolution of Population Policy in Malaysia

Other Population-related Policies

Family in Malaysia

Family Policy in Malaysia

The National Family Policy

Moving Ahead: Some Recommendations for

Family Policy
 Can We Achieve 70 Million?

2010:
2000: 28.3
1991: 23.3 million
18.4 million
1970: million
10.4
1957: million
6.3 million
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia
The Share of Working-Age Population has Soared from 50% in 1970
to 65% in 2010. But Young People is Declining

Percent Distribution of Population and Dependency Ratio

Age Group 1957 1970 1980 1991 2000 2010

0 - 14 43.8 44.9 39.9 36.5 33.3 27.4

15 - 59 51.6 49.9 54.6 57.7 60.5 64.8

60 and
4.6 5.2 5.5 5.8 6.2 7.9
above

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia

 We are at the “Replacement Fertility Level” !

Total fertility rate, Malaysia, 1963 – 2012

7.0
6.0
6.0 4.9
Total Fertility Rate

5.0 3.9
3.4
4.0 3.0
3.0 2.1

2.0
1.0
0.0
1963
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989

1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
1991

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia, Various Vital Statistics, 1963-2010.

People Now Marry Later

Singulate mean age at first marriage (SMAM), Malaysia, 1970 to 2010

SMAM (years)
Year
Men Women
1970 25.6 22.1
1980 26.6 23.5
1991 27.9 24.6
2000 28.6 25.1
2010 28.0 25.7
Source: World Marriage Data 2012, United Nations
Malaysia Will Becoming An Ageing Nation in 2035

Percentage of population aged 60 years or older, Malaysia, 1990 to 2040

16.3
14.9
13.6
12.2
10.6
9.1
7.6
6.2 6.6
5.8 5.7

1991 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (1995), Population and Housing Census of Malaysia, 1991.
Department of Statistics Malaysia (2001), Population and Housing Census of Malaysia, 2000.
Department of Statistics Malaysia (2012), Population Projections, Malaysia, 2010-2040
 Evolution of Population Policy in Malaysia

Led to the
Began
passage of
from the National
the
period of Family
National
the 1st Planning
Family
Malaysian Programme
Planning
Plan (1966- launched
Act No. 42,
1970)
1966
Evolution of Population Policy in Malaysia

•The Government recognised the inter-linkages

between population and development
processes

•The Government recognised that continued

population growth does not necessarily have a
negative effect on development

•A larger population, and the increased

domestic market can be beneficial in achieving
national development goals provided that the
quality and productivity of the population are
being constantly raised

•A specific population size of 70 million was

identified as an ideal target towards which
Malaysia might aim at by 2100.
 Evolution of Population Policy in Malaysia

The The main thrust

of our future
Reassessment of Total quantitative population
the policy fertility target of 70 programme is to
rate was million sustain
(Population Strategic dropping population by population
Plan Study 1992) faster than the year 2100 growth that is in
expected will, therefore,
not be balance with
achieved resources and
development

The Vision 2020 Policy

Sustain population Quality of the stresses human resource
growth that is in population is a development as well as
balance with more concern the need for the
resources and matter rather creation of an
development than quantity economically resilient
and fully competitive
community
 Evolution of Population Policy in Malaysia
Second Population Strategic Plan Study, 2009 shows that Malaysian
families are getting smaller and the total fertility rate is dropping much
faster. Some recommendations:

1 • A period of paid paternity leave

2 • Paid compassionate leave in cases of children's sickness

3 • More flexible working hours

4 • Child-minding facilities at the workplace

• Government subsidies for childcare costs incurred by working
5 mothers
6 • Increasing tax concession for dependent children
• Programmes to encourage husbands to be more fully involved in
7 childrearing and household activities

8 • Unmet needs for contraception need to be fully met

 National
Social Policy National Policy
on Women and
Plan of Action

Other
Population-
National Policy
related Policies for Older Persons
and Plan of
Action

National Policy
on Reproductive
Health and
Social Education
 National Social Policy (2003)

 NSP provides the framework for the planning and implementation of social
development programmes, to create a progressive and established Malaysian society
with every member having the opportunity to develop his/her potential.

 Specifically, the NSP seeks to:

i. To ensure that the basic necessities of the individual, family and community
are provided for;
ii. To develop and empower humans for life;
iii. To consolidate and develop the social support system and services; and
iv. To generate multi-sector synergy.

 NSP being reviewed, to be replaced with a New Social Model.

 National Women Policy

The setting/issues Policy response Impact

• Women have made • The 1989 National Policy • Increased female labor force
great stride in on Women was revised in participation, especially
education, but still 2009, to ensure an among the higher educated.
lagging in equitable sharing of • More and more women are
employment and resources and benefits of holding key positions in
decision-making. development for men and government and private
• Increased recognition women. sector.
of women’s role. • Contributing to family
wellbeing and national
development.
 National Policy for Older Persons and Plan of
Action (2011)

The setting/issues Policy response Impact

• Increasing life • New policy based on a review of • The effectiveness of the
expectancy the 1995 National Policy for the various programs has
• Older people will Elderly and the principles of the not been evaluated.
make up 15% of MIPAA, to ensure an enabling • More older people are
pop by 2030 from and supportive environment for expected to continue
8% now the well-being of older people, working following the
• Under-utilization of and to promote healthy, active extension of retirement
human resources and productive ageing. age.
• Care and support • Raise retirement age to 60.
dwindling extended • 100% tax rebate on cost to
family retrain older persons.
• Inadequate social • Tax rebate of up to RM5,000 to
protection encourage family care.
• High cost of long
term care
 National Policy on Reproductive Health and Social Education
(PEKERTI)

The setting/issues Policy response Impact

• Problems of youth • National Reproductive • 2011- Implement of
sexuality and RH Health and Social Reproductive Health and
• Drug addiction Education Policy in Social Education (RHSE)
• HIV/AIDS 2009, aims to empower in the National Service
adolescents with Training Curriculum
• Erosion of knowledge and positive (PLKN) PEKERTI@PLKN
parental guidance attitudes towards social • 2012- PEKERTI@SEKOLAH
• Negative influence and reproductive • The Government of
of social media health. Malaysia has established
thirteen youth-friendly
adolescent centres known
as kafe@TEEN
 Family in Malaysia: Socio-demographic context

Number of Households, Family Size, Family Structure, 1980, 1991, 2000, 2010

1980 1991 2000 2010

Number of Households (million) 2.5 3.5 4.8 6.4

Average Family Size (persons) 5.22 4.92 4.62 4.31

Family Structure (%)
Nuclear 55 60 65 70
Extended 28 26 20 18
Single 9 8 7 8

Source: Malaysian Census, 1980, 1991, 2000, 2010

 Parental • Maternity leave
Leave • Paternity leave

Family • Divided into means-

Cash tested and non-means
policy in tested under Child Act
Allowances
Malaysia 2001 and Care Centre
Act 1993

Flexible Working
Arrangements • A collaboration
programme between MWFCD and
TalentCorp
 National Family Policy (2010)

• NFP adopted in 2010 to prioritise family perspective in all

development efforts to ensure quality generations. It aims to
develop prosperous, healthy and resilient families to ensure social
stability.

• 3 Strategic Thrusts:
 Commitment/ involvement of various stakeholders;
 Enforcement of laws and regulations; and
 Services and family-friendly facilities are accessible.
 National Family Policy (2010): Strategies

1. Research and
development on
family wellbeing
2. Advocacy to
7. Monitoring prioritise family
and evaluation wellbeing

3. Training and
6. Conducive
environment for STRATEGIES lifelong education for
family human capital
empowerment development and
family wellbeing

5. Consultation and strategic

partnerships with various
Governments agencies, private 4. Provision of
sector, NGOs, institutions of resources
higher learning and the
community
 Current Programme for Family

NFP

1Malaysia
Family First
Movement

Family Review policies Accessibility

perspective and laws to be to family
commitment more family friendly
friendly services
 Family Wellbeing Index 2011
Family relations
23
100.0

80.0 Family economy

Housing &
environment 60.0

40.0

20.0

0.0

Family health
Family & religion

Family & Family & safety

community

Family Wellbeing Index Domain score

 Moving Ahead:
Recommendations for Family Policy

Work-life balance deserves more attention

Gender-neutral policy: More men should involve in

child-rearing & household responsibilities

On-site public-private partnership child care centre

Preparation to an ageing nation: Harnessing the

second demographic dividend & Inter-generational
Transfer

Need more resource for family policy

25