Urgent push to improve fertility rate
Inspiring change: Nancy (centre) officiating the Women's Inspiration Programme: Womenpreneurs – Shaping the Future Economy in Butterworth. — Bernama
BUTTERWORTH: The government is ramping up efforts to increase Malaysia's total fertility rate (TFR), which has been declining over the past 15 years, by promoting inclusive solutions involving men, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
The Women, Family, and Community Development Minister said the country's TFR is at 1.7 this year – a slight improvement from 1.6 last year, but still below the replacement level of 2.1.
'This is still not enough, which is why we are expanding awareness through more programmes and roadshows.
'Sometimes, women are not the problem. Men could also be the cause of the low fertility,' she told reporters yesterday after officiating the Women's Inspiration Programme: Womenpreneurs – Shaping the Future Economy, organised by the Department of Women's Development in collaboration with the Penang Women's Development Corporation.
She said the national roadshow began in Sabah and will soon continue across other states.
'There are several other programmes under the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) that address fertility issues, with solutions catering to both genders,' she said as reported by Bernama.
On yesterday's event, Nancy said the programme provided an avenue for women entrepreneurs to learn, share strategies and build support networks.
She reaffirmed the government's commitment to enhancing women's leadership across multiple sectors, noting that it is a key objective of the National Women's Policy and the Women's Development Action Plan 2025-2030, launched on International Women's Day in March.
She said women make up 49% of Malaysia's population, but out of a total of 222 MPs, only 13.36% are women, which is still a huge gap.
'However, there has been encouraging progress as 38.9% of top positions in the public sector are now held by women.
'Women also account for 32.2% of board members in publicly- listed companies,' she added.
At the ministerial level, Nancy said her ministry is nurturing female leaders through initiatives like the Women's Leadership Apprenticeship Programme launched last year, which has mentored over 1,200 women through guidance from 25 prominent figures across 10 major sectors.
She said the programme will be expanded this year with RM5mil in funding, involving 100 mentors and 5,000 participants, underscoring the government's continued investment in developing women's leadership.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
PDRM Will Remain Trusted Under Mohd Khalid's Watch
KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has congratulated Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail on his appointment as the new Inspector-General of Police (IGP). Ahmad Zahid expressed confidence that Mohd Khalid will adopt a comprehensive and progressive approach to safeguarding national security and public order based on his outstanding leadership track record, including serving as the Bukit Aman Special Branch director and holding various strategic positions since 2018. 'Insya-Allah, under Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid's leadership, I believe that the Royal Malaysia Police will continue to be a trusted institution among the people, respected by both friend and foe,' he said in a Facebook post today.
Barnama
2 hours ago
- Barnama
Top News Headlines In Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore & Vietnam: June 21, 2025
TO SUMMON FORMER MINISTER NADIEM IN RP 9.9T CHROMEBOOK CORRUPTION CASE -- JAKARTA GLOBE WELCOMES NEW AGE WITH GLOBAL AMBITIONS -- THE JAKARTA POST Former Education Minister Nadiem Makarim has been summoned by the Attorney General's Office (AGO) for questioning on Monday, June 23, as part of a corruption probe into the Education Ministry's Rp 9.98 trillion (US$615 million) Chromebook procurement project. Jakarta will mark its 498th anniversary this weekend with a renewed vision of transforming into a global centre for trade, services, finance and business, even as the city faces persistent questions about its livability and its impending loss of capital status. PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR The Election Commission held a meeting to ensure the polls are conducted transparently without any fraud. Voting machines that are being produced will be transported and stored in the respective regions and states. ENTERING CHINESE MARKET RISING -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Nearly 1,755 food processing companies have applied to the General Administration of Customs of China for a licence to enter the market as of June 13. Registration is mandatory for food exporters to China. SINGAPORE AHEAD: HOW USED COOKING OIL COULD HINDER AVIATION'S GREEN FUEL HOPES -- THE STRAITS TIMES This is the starting point for the world's – and especially Europe's – lofty dreams of greener air travel: a collection point for plastic bottles filled with discarded frying oil in Malaysia. SAYS IRAN HAS 'MAXIMUM' TWO WEEKS, DISMISSES EUROPE PEACE EFFORTS -- CNA/AFP US President Donald Trump said Friday (Jun 20) that Iran had a "maximum" of two weeks to avoid possible American air strikes, as Israel claimed it has already set back Iran's presumed nuclear programme by at least two years. VIETNAM RULES TO MANAGE GOLD TRADING -- VIETNAMPLUS The State Bank of Vietnam is mulling stricter regulations on gold trading. Bank transfers are required for gold transactions worth RM3,253 (US$765) and above to promote transparency and verify customer identities. TAX PRESSURES SHIPPING SECTOR -- VIETNAM NEWS The International Maritime Organisation's policy to cut greenhouse emissions from ships could burden Vietnam's shipping industry. Vessels emitting carbon dioxide beyond the mandatory limits would face a tax of RM16,164 (US$380) per metric tonne when the policy is implemented in 2028. -- BERNAMA BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies. Follow us on social media : Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio Twitter : @ @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial TikTok : @bernamaofficial
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Costly click: Facebook investment scam drains Johor retiree of RM535,000 in three months
JOHOR BARU, June 21 — A private sector retiree lost RM535,766 after allegedly falling victim to an online investment scam promoted via an advertisement on the Facebook application. Seri Alam District Police chief ACP Mohd Sohaimi Ishak said the police received a report from a 57-year-old local man on Tuesday, who claimed losses exceeding RM500,000. He said the victim had come across a share investment advertisement on Facebook on March 13 that promised lucrative returns within a short time, and clicked on the provided link out of interest. 'Subsequently, the victim made 26 payment transactions into five different bank accounts between March 13 and June 5, totalling RM535,766. The victim was also asked to make additional payments to withdraw the so-called 'investment profits', but those requests were never fulfilled,' he said in a statement today. Mohd Sohaimi said the victim only realised he had been duped after repeated attempts to recover the investment funds proved futile. 'Preliminary checks via the CCID's 'Semak Mule' platform found that all five accounts involved had a total of 22 police reports linked to investment scams,' he said. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, and police are also looking into the possible involvement of mule account holders. — Bernama
