PAS MP moots govt awards for women who give birth to boost procreation

A PAS lawmaker wants the government to look into ways to elevate the status of women who give birth to boost fertility rates.

In a parliamentary query, Mumtaz Nawi (PN-Tumpat), cited the Order of Maternal Glory awarded in Mongolia as an example of one initiative.

The Order of Maternal Glory has origins in the Soviet Union, and awards women who give birth to a substantial number of children.

In the Mongolian context, reports state that there are two classes of awards.

The first class award is for women who have given birth to six children or more and are entitled to an annual cash award of ₮200,000 (RM255) per year.

The second class award is for women who have given birth to at least four children and are entitled to an annual award of ₮100,000 per year.

Motherhood challenges

According to the Statistics Department, the total fertility rate in 2022 was 1.6 children for each woman in the reproductive age of 15 to 49.

Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Nancy Shukri, in response to Mumtaz (above), said the government had, starting this year, given out the Ibu Inspirasi (Inspiring Mother) award during the national Mother’s Day celebrations.

The awards were given to special mothers to honour their sacrifices in birthing and raising children, she said.

The award was in response to a Mother’s Day survey by the government that found nine out of 10 respondents felt that being a mother now was more challenging than in the past.

Nancy further said there were also various efforts by the ministry to boost fertility rates.

This includes advocacy and tax exemptions for fertility treatments, offering such treatments at affordable rates, and opening male fertility clinics.

She added that the government was also setting up a National Subfertility Centre in Shah Alam, which would give modern fertility treatments at affordable rates.

COMMENT | Women's Day: Thank you, but no thank you

Barbarian Invasion: A tale of motherhood with a martial arts twist

LETTER | Problems behind the eggs-tra income

MEF's myopic view on paternity, maternity leave

Mums joining workforce not to blame for social ills