The Women, Family And Community Development Ministry will be advocating the government to extend paternity leave from seven days to 30 days for fathers in Malaysia, said its deputy minister Azizah Mohd Dun.

She said it was a good step to bring this matter forward as it could create good bonding between the parents and their children besides helping them to build a good family environment.

“Through this effort, parents can carry out their duties at home during the confinement period without any obstacles,” she told reporters after the launching of Swedish Dads and Malaysia Dads Photo Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur today.

Azizah said previously, paternity leave given to the fathers was only three days, but it had been extended to seven days.

She said nowadays young fathers acknowledged their responsibilities as a father and want to be together with their wife to raise their children.

Commenting further on the exhibition, Azizah said it could help educate parents and be an eye opener for the government to implement the proposed paternity leave.

The exhibition which was organised by Ikea Malaysia, Swedish Embassy of Malaysia and National Population and Family Development features a compelling series of photos that features 11 fathers sharing everyday moments at home with their young children together with a thought-provoking exhibition by Swedish photographer Johan Bavman.

The exhibitors were selected from a Malaysia Dad photo competition that was launched last month by Ikea and the Embassy of Sweden to mark the introduction of the company’s paid paternity leave policy.

Meanwhile, sustainability and communications director at Ikea Southeast Asia Lars Svensson said this year, Ikea introduced one month paid paternity leave across all offices in Southeast Asia to enable new fathers to care for their babies.

The exhibition will take place at the National Art Gallery from today until March 31, 2018 and at the MyTown Shopping Centre from Nov 20 to 30, 2017.

- Bernama