QUOTE:
‘There is nothing like a newborn baby to renew your spirit and buttress your resolve to make the world a better place.’ – Virginia Kelley, American nurse
A recent Sin Chew Daily news story about young Malaysian Chinese being reluctant to have a family was an interesting read.
While the topic isn’t novel, the report revealing that in the Dragon Year of 2024, there were fewer Chinese babies born compared to the previous Rabbit Year has sparked conversations within the community.
The dragon holds significant symbolism in Chinese culture, often regarded as an auspicious and powerful emblem. Consequently, Chinese parents have a strong affinity for welcoming babies during the Year of the Dragon.
Nevertheless, such phenomenon has changed as the figures released by the Department of Statistics in 2024, which is the Year of the Dragon showed otherwise.
Only a total of 29,585 babies were born in 2024, 4,088 less than the previous year.
In a recent Universiti Sains Malaysia survey, the outcome indicates that young Malaysian Chinese choose to remain single and those married opt not to have babies.
The survey also illustrates the somewhat nonchalant attitude of young Malaysian Chinese in that they do not care about the declining Chinese population and they do not see themselves getting involved in increasing the Chinese population by getting married and starting a family.
There are many reasons why this is so and it is unfair to blame the present generation of young Malaysian Chinese, as if they alone are responsible without understanding their decision.
I think those of my generation who are now in the 50s and 60s must also share the blame for the low birth rate of the Chinese in Malaysia if there is any necessity or validation to do so.
For those of us who are parents of young adult children, I believe we are fully aware and understand why our offspring made the choice to have small families.
The trend is driven by a complex mix of economic, social and cultural factors and it’s perhaps more complex, if not complicated, in multi-racial Malaysia for the Chinese community.
The financial aspect (read the high cost of living) is undoubtedly the key factor. Raising children in the country, especially in urban areas like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru, Kuching or Kota Kinabalu is expensive.
In years gone by, it used to be relatively easier to eke out a living in East Malaysia than in the peninsula but not anymore.
The cost of living in Kuching, Bintulu, Miri, Sandakan or Kota Kinabalu is more of the same as in the major cities in West Malaysia today.
Many young Chinese Malaysians also cite the cost of education, healthcare, housing and childcare and they have a desire to give their children the best possible upbringing, which requires financial stability.
Then, many young professionals are highly career-driven and postpone marriage and children to focus on economic security and personal growth.
Perhaps, this cultural aspect must also be taken into consideration. There is a strong culture of competition and success within the Chinese community, which adds pressure to “establish oneself” before starting a family.
Young Chinese Malaysians are also more likely to live in cities, where social norms support delayed marriage, smaller families and individual freedom. This leads to later childbearing years, which naturally reduce fertility.
Then, there is limited institutional support for working parents, eg. affordable daycare, flexible work hours, or generous parental leave.
Without these, many couples naturally feel it’s too burdensome to have children.
Then, the pessimism about the future of non-Bumiputras in the country is another key factor. Many feel disillusioned due to ethnic-based policies, economic uncertainty and brain drain issues.
This pessimism extends to long-term planning, including starting families.
Perhaps, there is also the influence of global trends. What’s happening in Malaysia mirrors broader trends in East Asian societies (China, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea), where birth rates are also falling due to modern lifestyle choices and changing gender roles.
So, it is not only young Malaysian Chinese who are reluctant to have more babies. It is also happening elsewhere.
While cash incentives like the Perlis state government’s RM1,200 offer may help symbolically, they are unlikely to make a significant difference unless broader economic incentives and structural support systems are implemented.
The people of Malacca must also be thankful to the Malacca Eng Choon Association for launching its “Eng Choon Baby Plan” which started giving out incentives on Jan 1 this year.
The project is aimed at encouraging childbirth by providing a monthly incentive of RM100 for each newborn registered under the programme. It will be distributed for 12 months, amounting to a total of RM1,200 per child.
Whether such rewards will be successful or not in encouraging Chinese couples to have more babies, the purpose for which it was set up is gratifying enough.
In the final analysis, the reluctance of young Chinese Malaysians to start families is not due to cultural apathy but rather real-life constraints and rational concerns.
And there is a serious need for a national narrative that supports inclusive, family-friendly policies for all communities.
Francis Paul Siah is a veteran Sarawak editor and currently heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.