MELAKA: Newlyweds Chong Chen Fatt and Bong Huey Yee are excited about starting a family but are postponing their plans due to financial concerns.
“We want to have children soon, but my wife and I believe in ensuring they will have the best life possible,” said Chong, 33, a real estate agent. “So, we’ve decided to wait until we are financially stable.”
Chong and Bong, 24, from Bukit Katil, Melaka, married last month. Bong works as an administrative executive. “We want to secure a bright future for our children before bringing them into the world,” Chong explained.
Similarly, 31-year-old Vennesa Ching from Cheng has been married for two years and is delaying parenthood to save more money. As a sales manager, she wants to ensure that her children will be able to afford tertiary education in today’s fast-changing world. Her 36-year-old husband, also a sales manager, shares her desire to wait until they are fully prepared.
These couples are among those who stand to benefit from the Melaka Eng Choon Association’s new initiative to support first-time parents. Starting January 1, the “Eng Choon Baby Plan” will provide RM100 monthly for a year to parents of newborns registered in the program. In the case of twins, parents will receive RM200 per month.
The association, composed of members with ties to the Eng Choon or Yongchun region in southern Fujian, China, hopes the initiative will help address the sharp decline in the Chinese population in Malaysia over the past two decades.
Datuk Wira Lee Shiann, deputy president of the association, explained that the program aims to encourage childbirth within the community.
Tang Li Chinn, head of education, college, and youth affairs for the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong), praised the initiative and pointed out that a similar effort by a Chinese association in Negri Sembilan had already proven successful. He urged other states to adopt similar measures and recommended comprehensive studies to understand the cultural and economic factors contributing to low fertility rates.
“These associations should collaborate with government agencies to promote higher birth rates and offer more support to young couples in the early stages of family life,” said Tang.
Kent Tan Chow Teng, chairman of the Heng Leng Melaka Lion and Dragon Dance Association, also expressed his support for the program. Tan, a legal adviser and social advocate, acknowledged that raising a family today is more challenging than in previous generations. He cited rising living costs, limited childcare options, and the demands of modern careers as major factors delaying marriages and reducing family sizes.
“These challenges often lead to delayed marriages, smaller families, or even decisions to remain child-free, contributing to demographic stagnation,” Tan said.
While Tan supports the financial incentives provided by the Eng Choon Association, he stressed that addressing Malaysia’s population challenges requires more than just monetary rewards. He called for a holistic approach, combining community-driven initiatives with strong, government-led policies to support family growth.
Related topics:
