(Excerpts from Malaysia Presentation at 52nd Session of the  Commission on Population and Development, 1-5 April 2019, New York) 

POPULATION AND REPRODUCTIVE  HEALTH 

The population of Malaysia is estimated at 33  million today, with 3.1 million are non-citizens.  The rate of population growth has declined to 1.7  percent per annum from about 2.5 percent during  the 1970-2000 period. This has resulted a decline  in crude rate of natural in increase from 21 per  thousand population in 2000 to 10.6 in 2018.

Today, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has dipped  well below replacement level to 1.9 children per  women in 2017 as compared to about 3 children  in 2000. The adolescent birth rate in Malaysia has  fallen from 19 per thousand girls aged 15-19  years in 1990 to about 10 today. Nevertheless,  adolescent pregnancy remains a concern.

Contraceptive prevalence rate increased from  about 49 percent in 2004 to 52.2 percent in 2014.  Unmet need for modern contraception remains at  a very high level, at almost 35 percent. Efforts are  being made to reduce unmet need for  contraception, with emphasis on the use of  modern methods, especially long-acting methods.

The Ministry of Health and other implementing  agencies has provide a comprehensive health  care services including contraceptive and sexual   reproductive health. The adoption of the National  Adolescent Health Plan of Action (2006-2020)  and the establishment of the youth friendly  centres known as kafeTEEN by the National  Population and Family Development Board  (NPFDB) are meant to widen the accessibility of  reproductive health education, information, and  services for young people.

In addition, the National Reproductive Health  Education and Social Education (PEKERTI) Policy  and Action Plan was adopted in 2009 as part of  the strategies to inculcate a healthy lifestyle and  promote the well-being of the population, in line  with Goal 3 of the SDGs. Strategies have also  been formulated based on the four main aspects  of advocacy, human capital, research and  development, as well as monitoring and  evaluation. 

Malaysia’s levels of under-five mortality, infant  mortality and neonatal mortality are successfully  much lower than the ICPD-PoA and SDGs targets.

LIFE EXPECTANCY AND MORTALITY 

Between 1970 and 2010, life expectancy in  Malaysia rose by 10.7 years to 72.7 years for  males and 11 years to 77.6 years for females. The  advancement in life expectancy is reflected by the  decline in age-specific mortality rates. Malaysia’s  levels of under-five mortality, infant mortality and  neonatal mortality are successfully much lower  than the ICPD-PoA and SDGs targets.  

The infant mortality rate has declined from 39.4  per thousand births in 1970 to 6.7 in 2016.  Concomitantly, the maternal mortality ratio  (MMR) has declined from 44 per 100,000 births in  1991 to 26.1 in 2010, but rose to 29.1 in 2016.  This rise in MMR has caused a great deal of  concern, although it is likely that such an increase  is due to improvement in registration, especially  among the undocumented migrants. 

POPULATION AGEING 

Malaysia is moving towards becoming one of the  aged countries by 2030. Statistics shows that  population aged 60 years and above stood at 7.9  percent in 2010 and projected to reach 15.3  percent by 2030. The fast pace of ageing  population is as a result of longer life expectancy  and rapid decline in TFR. 

The National Policy for Older Persons and its Plan  of Action were reviewed in 2011 to acknowledge  the older persons as citizens with varied  background and experiences, to have the rights to  enjoy a comfortable and respected life and  contribute to the development of the nation. This  policy is the government’s commitment to create  a conducive environment for older persons who  are independent, with dignity, high sense of  self-worth and respected by optimizing their  self-potential through a healthy, positive, active  and productive ageing.

LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND 

The Ministry of Economic Affairs serves as the  focal point for SDG implementation while the  Department of Statistics is the database weeper  for SDG indicators. Efforts to strengthen  population and development data systems,  especially locally and gender disaggregated data  will continued to be prioritized, so that progress  towards ICPD and SDG goals and targets can be  monitored closely.

Malaysia supports the principle that all the  people of the world, regardless of race, culture  and religious beliefs, should enjoy the benefits  and fruits of development throughout the entire  span of their life. To this end, the Government of  Malaysia will continue to work towards creating  consensus and policy prescriptions to move  forward the ICPD-PoA and SDG target by ensuring  that we leave no one behind.  

Malaysia is moving towards  becoming one of the aged countries by 2030. The fast pace  of ageing population is as a result of longer life expectancy  and rapid decline in TFR.

Download : PopInfo Issue 1 2019

(Excerpts from Malaysia Presentation at 52nd Session of the  Commission on Population and Development, 1-5 April 2019, New York) 

POPULATION AND REPRODUCTIVE  HEALTH 

The population of Malaysia is estimated at 33  million today, with 3.1 million are non-citizens.  The rate of population growth has declined to 1.7  percent per annum from about 2.5 percent during  the 1970-2000 period. This has resulted a decline  in crude rate of natural in increase from 21 per  thousand population in 2000 to 10.6 in 2018.

Today, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has dipped  well below replacement level to 1.9 children per  women in 2017 as compared to about 3 children  in 2000. The adolescent birth rate in Malaysia has  fallen from 19 per thousand girls aged 15-19  years in 1990 to about 10 today. Nevertheless,  adolescent pregnancy remains a concern.

Contraceptive prevalence rate increased from  about 49 percent in 2004 to 52.2 percent in 2014.  Unmet need for modern contraception remains at  a very high level, at almost 35 percent. Efforts are  being made to reduce unmet need for  contraception, with emphasis on the use of  modern methods, especially long-acting methods.

The Ministry of Health and other implementing  agencies has provide a comprehensive health  care services including contraceptive and sexual   reproductive health. The adoption of the National  Adolescent Health Plan of Action (2006-2020)  and the establishment of the youth friendly  centres known as kafeTEEN by the National  Population and Family Development Board  (NPFDB) are meant to widen the accessibility of  reproductive health education, information, and  services for young people.

In addition, the National Reproductive Health  Education and Social Education (PEKERTI) Policy  and Action Plan was adopted in 2009 as part of  the strategies to inculcate a healthy lifestyle and  promote the well-being of the population, in line  with Goal 3 of the SDGs. Strategies have also  been formulated based on the four main aspects  of advocacy, human capital, research and  development, as well as monitoring and  evaluation. 

Malaysia’s levels of under-five mortality, infant  mortality and neonatal mortality are successfully  much lower than the ICPD-PoA and SDGs targets.

LIFE EXPECTANCY AND MORTALITY 

Between 1970 and 2010, life expectancy in  Malaysia rose by 10.7 years to 72.7 years for  males and 11 years to 77.6 years for females. The  advancement in life expectancy is reflected by the  decline in age-specific mortality rates. Malaysia’s  levels of under-five mortality, infant mortality and  neonatal mortality are successfully much lower  than the ICPD-PoA and SDGs targets.  

The infant mortality rate has declined from 39.4  per thousand births in 1970 to 6.7 in 2016.  Concomitantly, the maternal mortality ratio  (MMR) has declined from 44 per 100,000 births in  1991 to 26.1 in 2010, but rose to 29.1 in 2016.  This rise in MMR has caused a great deal of  concern, although it is likely that such an increase  is due to improvement in registration, especially  among the undocumented migrants. 

POPULATION AGEING 

Malaysia is moving towards becoming one of the  aged countries by 2030. Statistics shows that  population aged 60 years and above stood at 7.9  percent in 2010 and projected to reach 15.3  percent by 2030. The fast pace of ageing  population is as a result of longer life expectancy  and rapid decline in TFR. 

The National Policy for Older Persons and its Plan  of Action were reviewed in 2011 to acknowledge  the older persons as citizens with varied  background and experiences, to have the rights to  enjoy a comfortable and respected life and  contribute to the development of the nation. This  policy is the government’s commitment to create  a conducive environment for older persons who  are independent, with dignity, high sense of  self-worth and respected by optimizing their  self-potential through a healthy, positive, active  and productive ageing.

LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND 

The Ministry of Economic Affairs serves as the  focal point for SDG implementation while the  Department of Statistics is the database weeper  for SDG indicators. Efforts to strengthen  population and development data systems,  especially locally and gender disaggregated data  will continued to be prioritized, so that progress  towards ICPD and SDG goals and targets can be  monitored closely.

Malaysia supports the principle that all the  people of the world, regardless of race, culture  and religious beliefs, should enjoy the benefits  and fruits of development throughout the entire  span of their life. To this end, the Government of  Malaysia will continue to work towards creating  consensus and policy prescriptions to move  forward the ICPD-PoA and SDG target by ensuring  that we leave no one behind.  

Malaysia is moving towards  becoming one of the aged countries by 2030. The fast pace  of ageing population is as a result of longer life expectancy  and rapid decline in TFR.

Download : PopInfo Issue 1 2019