Malaysian Population and Family Survey (MPFS 4) 2004

The Fourth Malaysian Population and Family Survey (MPFS-4) 2004, represents the fourth series of LPPKN’s national survey on population and family development. Building on the earlier survey series conducted since 1974, MPFS-4 continued LPPKN’s long-standing commitment to generating reliable time-series data on population, family, reproductive health and socioeconomic development in Malaysia.

A key milestone of MPFS-4 was that, for the first time in the survey series, it was conducted simultaneously across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. This allowed LPPKN to produce a more comprehensive and regionally sensitive understanding of Malaysia’s demographic and family landscape, while recognising the unique population characteristics, geographical contexts and ethnic composition of the three regions. MPFS-4 was designed as a nationally representative study to provide updated information on demographic, social, economic, family and health characteristics. Its findings served as an important evidence base for policy formulation, programme planning and the development of interventions related to population, family well-being and reproductive health.

Objectives

The main objective of MPFS-4 was to provide time-series data on demographic and socio-economic information, particularly on the relationship between population, family development and reproductive health, as well as their linkages with national development. The survey also aimed to update key indicators used to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of policies, programmes and activities related to population, family and reproductive health. In addition, MPFS-4 was intended to provide evidence-based input for the preparation of the Ninth Malaysia Plan. More broadly, MPFS-4 supported LPPKN’s role as a national reference centre for population and family data by generating comprehensive information to assist policymakers, programme planners, researchers, academics and relevant stakeholders.

Coverage and Respondents

MPFS-4 covered Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, with analysis and reporting conducted separately for the three regions due to their distinct sampling structures and population profiles. A total of 18,852 living quarters were selected for the survey, comprising 9,432 in Peninsular Malaysia, 4,710 in Sabah and 4,710 in Sarawak. During fieldwork, 18,875 living quarters were visited, of which 15,045 were identified as suitable for interview. From these, 11,401 living quarters were successfully interviewed, producing information from 11,616 households and 52,636 household members.

The survey used six main survey modules, including household and living quarter listing. In terms of individual respondents, MPFS-4 covered five main target groups:-

• Ever-married women aged 15–49 years;
• Husbands of currently married women;
• Never-married adolescents aged 13–24 years;
• Persons aged 50 years and above;
• Single adults aged 25–49 years.

In total, MPFS-4 successfully collected information from 20,531 individual respondents across the five target groups. This comprised 7,248 ever-married women, 5,258 husbands, 3,394 adolescents, 3,439 older persons aged 50 and above, and 1,192 single adults.

Key Outputs and Achievements

MPFS-4 produced three comprehensive regional reports, namely the reports for Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. This reporting approach allowed LPPKN to present more detailed analysis for each region and to support better comparison across different geographical and population contexts. The reports covered major themes in population and family development, including household and living conditions, marriage and fertility, reproductive health and health practices, family life, adolescents, older persons and singlehood. The inclusion of single adults was especially significant, as singlehood emerged as a newer area of focus within the MPFS series.

MPFS-4 also introduced several important improvements in survey implementation. The study used a two-stage stratified sampling design based on the 2000 Population and Housing Census sampling frame prepared with technical support from the Department of Statistics Malaysia. Data collection was conducted through face-to-face interviews using standardised questionnaires. For the first time in the MPFS series, image scanning technology was used for data entry, helping to improve efficiency and reduce reliance on conventional manual data keying. The findings of MPFS-4 contributed to a stronger national evidence base on Malaysia’s population and family development. The survey provided valuable insights into changes in family formation, fertility patterns, reproductive health practices, family interaction, childcare, care for older parents, adolescent behaviour, ageing and singlehood.

MPFS-4 was an important milestone in the Malaysian Population and Family Survey series. It strengthened LPPKN’s role in producing policy-relevant data and demonstrated the importance of long-term, comparable and regionally sensitive population research in supporting national development planning.