Persidangan Kependudukan Kebangsaan 2023 (PERKKS23)

The National Population Conference 2023, or Persidangan Kependudukan Kebangsaan 2023 (PERKKS23), continued LPPKN’s national population conference platform as a strategic space for evidence-based dialogue on Malaysia’s demographic, family and development agenda. Building on the PERKKS rebranding introduced in 2021, the 2023 edition further positioned the conference as an important national forum for translating population research into policy ideas, programme direction and multi-sector collaboration. PERKKS23 was held on 21–22 November 2023 at Pulse Grande Hotel, Putrajaya, with the theme “Sustainable Population and Families, Developing Malaysia MADANI.” The conference was organised by LPPKN with strategic partners including UNFPA Malaysia, the Faculty of Business and Economics, Universiti Malaya, and other collaborators.

The conference was officiated by YB Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, reflecting the Government’s strong commitment to positioning population and family issues as part of Malaysia’s sustainable development agenda.

Objectives

PERKKS23 aimed to strengthen national discourse on population sustainability, family well-being and Malaysia MADANI. It provided a platform for policymakers, researchers, academics, practitioners and strategic partners to exchange evidence, discuss current population challenges and identify practical responses to issues affecting Malaysian families. The conference also sought to encourage policy-relevant discussion on fertility, reproductive health, family resilience, demographic transition and sustainable population development. Through this platform, LPPKN continued to bridge research, policy and implementation in support of stronger families and a more sustainable population future.

Programme Focus

PERKKS23 highlighted key issues related to population, family development, fertility and reproductive health. Its programme focused on strengthening understanding of Malaysia’s changing demographic landscape, including fertility decline, family well-being, population sustainability and the need for more responsive services and interventions. A major highlight of PERKKS23 was the stronger emphasis on fertility and subfertility as national policy concerns. This reflected the growing need to address Malaysia’s declining fertility rate through awareness, research, service enhancement and strategic partnerships.

Strategic Collaboration: LPPKN and MERCK

An important milestone during PERKKS23 was the strengthening of strategic collaboration between LPPKN and MERCK Malaysia through a Memorandum of Understanding focusing on fertility, reproductive health and subfertility-related initiatives. This collaboration demonstrated LPPKN’s commitment to working with technical and industry partners to advance fertility awareness, strengthen reproductive health advocacy, support capacity building and explore future initiatives related to subfertility services in Malaysia. The MoU also reinforced the role of PERKKS23 as more than a conference platform. It became a catalyst for partnership-driven action, connecting evidence, expertise and institutional collaboration to address Malaysia’s fertility and family development challenges.

Key Outcomes

PERKKS23 successfully reinforced population and family sustainability as a national development priority. Through its theme and programme focus, the conference strengthened evidence-based conversations on fertility decline, family well-being, reproductive health and sustainable population planning.

A key outcome of the conference was the stronger positioning of fertility and subfertility within Malaysia’s population and family policy agenda. The conference supported the development of policy discussions, strategic recommendations and multi-sector partnerships to guide future interventions.

Overall, PERKKS23 elevated LPPKN’s role as a national convener of population and family development discourse. It demonstrated how research, policy dialogue and strategic collaboration can come together to support a more sustainable population future and stronger Malaysian families.