Stagnant wages, insecure employment, living costs, childcare expenses making many Malaysians avoid starting a family, says MCA info chief
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s plunging birth rate is increasingly being driven not by a rejection of parenthood but by the harsh economic realities confronting young adults, said MCA Youth Information chief Neow Choo Seong.
He said stagnant wages, insecure employment, soaring living costs and rising childcare expenses are making it difficult for many young Malaysians to even consider starting a family.
“At this juncture, we can see that young people cannot find decent or proper jobs with reasonable incomes. I do not think they even dare to step into marriage.
“Even if they get married, to have a baby in these challenging times, with the high cost of living, inflation and so on, is not conducive for young couples,” he told theSun.
Neow said the growing reluctance to have children should not be mistaken for a lack of desire, particularly among urban couples who are increasingly forced to weigh financial survival against parenthood.
He said many young adults are questioning whether they could afford to provide their children with a decent quality of life, especially in terms of education and long-term security.
“If I cannot afford a good life for my children, particularly education, why should I bring them into this world?” he said describing the dilemma faced by many couples.
He said social priorities had also shifted, with many young Malaysians delaying marriage and parenthood to focus on higher education, careers, travel and personal aspirations.
“Young adults would rather travel, chase their hobbies or dreams and enjoy their life before they think of settling down. This does not help create a sense of urgency to have a family. At the age of 30, we still think we are young.”
Neow said childcare had become one of the heaviest financial burdens for working couples, with daycare fees consuming a substantial share of household income. He pointed out that many young adults are facing this dilemma.
“At the end of the month, we find out we are working to pay for daycare. That is very tough for young couples with a household income of less than RM10,000.
“To have a second child, it is not that they do not want to. I think it is that they cannot afford to.”
He urged the government to strengthen family-friendly policies, including workplace support for young parents and wider access to affordable childcare services.
According to the Statistics Department, Malaysia recorded 93,500 live births in the first quarter of 2025 – the lowest quarterly figure ever recorded, and an 11.5% decline from 105,613 births during the same period last year.
Women aged between 30 and 39 accounted for the largest share of births at 53.3%, followed by those aged 20 to 29 at 39.3%, reflecting the trend of delayed parenthood.
