Absurd to 'solve' low birth rates with polygamy, MCA tells Bersatu MP

Wanita MCA has panned a Bersatu MP’s proposal to tackle the country’s low birth rates by encouraging polygamy as “absurd and detached from social realities”.

Calling it impractical, Wanita MCA chairperson Wong You Fong said the proposal could lead to more social and family problems, detrimental to Malaysia’s long-term development.

While high birth rates could ease the challenges of an ageing population, she said raising children also requires sufficient time and resources.

“If children are not well-raised or educated, the quality of the next generation’s growth will be greatly affected.

“Such neglect will only generate more social problems rather than effectively addressing the challenges of national development,” she said in a statement today.

READ MORE: How much does it cost to raise a child?

During parliamentary debates last Thursday, the Hulu Terengganu MP urged the government to provide more incentives and childbearing, including polygamy, to arrest the decline in Malaysia's birth rate.

“There is an unhealthy trend among young individuals who choose not to marry or have children.

“What is the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry doing to encourage marriage and childbirth, so we can increase the country's population?

“Maybe the government can encourage polygamy,” The Star quoted him as saying.

Malaysia’s fertility rate has been in decline since 2013.

It stands at 1.6 births per woman, which is well below the replacement rate of 2.1 needed to maintain the current population size. In comparison, the rate was 3.3 births per woman in 1990.

READ MORE: Is there a way to get people to have more babies?

Wong said people want to pursue a higher quality of life and family happiness, rather than compromising on the wellbeing of their offspring in pursuit of larger population numbers.

She urged the government to base population policies on the actual needs of the people, promoting sustainable development rather than resorting to impractical measures that undermine family and social structures.

Reduce financial burden

Among others, Wong urged the government to reduce the financial burden of raising children by increasing childcare allowances and tax incentives and providing subsidies for childcare services.

Encouraging employers to offer flexible work arrangements for parents would enable them to balance career development with family duties.

Making housing more affordable, she added, would reduce financial burdens on young people and increase their willingness to have children, while making quality education accessible for free or at a low cost would ensure children grow up in a healthy environment.

Wong also urged the government to attract high-skilled immigrants, which would supplement Malaysia’s workforce and population base, while enhancing its economic potential.

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