“Unrealistic and absurd”: Wanita MCA slams MP’s polygamy suggestion, tells him to find practical solutions instead
By Bernie Yeo
A WANITA MCA leader has slammed Hulu Terengganu MP Datuk Rosol Wahid for proposing polygamy as a solution to tackle the issue of Malaysia’s ageing population and declining birth rate.
Calling the proposal “absurd”, its national chairperson Wong You Fong said Rosol’s suggestion fails to recognise the social conflicts and family problems that may arise with polygamy.
“Wanita MCA strongly opposes Rosol’s suggestion. We need to emphasise that this suggestion overlooks the actual economic and social responsibilities involved. Not only that, it also undermines the nation’s long-term stability and development,” she stressed.
To tackle the issue of an ageing population, Wong said the government must instead adopt practical and comprehensive policies rather than considering “unrealistic and absurd” suggestions that are detached from social reality.
She noted that while increasing the birth rate can help alleviate an ageing population, expanding the number of children must be based on the premise that families have the economic capacity and time to care for them.
“If children cannot receive proper upbringing and education, the quality of the next generation’s development will be significantly affected. This neglect will only lead to more social problems,” she rationalised.
Pragmatic policies needed
To actively increase the nation’s birth rate, Wong proposed that the government focus on improving economic conditions and enhancing the social environment to assist people in alleviating the burden of child-raising.
Among the suggested policies are to increase economic support by introducing higher childcare allowance and tax incentives to ease the financial burden on families and providing childcare service subsidies to help young parents balance their careers and family lives.
“There is also a need to improve work-life balance whereby employers are encouraged to offer flexible work arrangements for parents, allowing them to balance professional development with family responsibilities,” Wong stated.
“In addition, the government must provide more affordable housing to help lower the financial pressures heaved on young adults, thereby enhancing the willingness of married couples to bear children and implement a high-quality education system that is either free or low-cost to ensure children grow up in a healthy and quality environment.”
Wong went on to propose that the government introduce high-quality immigration policies by attracting highly skilled immigrants of a certain financial standing to support the country’s workforce and population base
“The rakyat’s expectations for life are to pursue high-quality living and family wellbeing, not to sacrifice the future of the next generation in order to grow population numbers,” she pointed out.
“To stress upon this matter again, the government should base population policies on the actual needs of the people while promoting sustainable development.
“While doing so, we need to avoid regressing to impractical solutions that could disrupt and destroy family and social structures.”
On Thursday (Nov 28), Rosol, during the debates for Budget 2025 in Parliament, had said the government should provide incentives to encourage marriage and childbearing to address the issue of declining birth rates.
“Maybe the government can encourage polygamy,” he proposed, which was met with both laughter and disdain from other MPs in the House. – Dec 3, 2024
Main image: AFP
A WANITA MCA leader has slammed Hulu Terengganu MP Datuk Rosol Wahid for proposing polygamy as a solution to tackle the issue of Malaysia’s ageing population and declining birth rate.
Calling the proposal “absurd”, its national chairperson Wong You Fong said Rosol’s suggestion fails to recognise the social conflicts and family problems that may arise with polygamy.
“Wanita MCA strongly opposes Rosol’s suggestion. We need to emphasise that this suggestion overlooks the actual economic and social responsibilities involved. Not only that, it also undermines the nation’s long-term stability and development,” she stressed.
To tackle the issue of an ageing population, Wong said the government must instead adopt practical and comprehensive policies rather than considering “unrealistic and absurd” suggestions that are detached from social reality.
She noted that while increasing the birth rate can help alleviate an ageing population, expanding the number of children must be based on the premise that families have the economic capacity and time to care for them.
“If children cannot receive proper upbringing and education, the quality of the next generation’s development will be significantly affected. This neglect will only lead to more social problems,” she rationalised.
Pragmatic policies needed
To actively increase the nation’s birth rate, Wong proposed that the government focus on improving economic conditions and enhancing the social environment to assist people in alleviating the burden of child-raising.
Among the suggested policies are to increase economic support by introducing higher childcare allowance and tax incentives to ease the financial burden on families and providing childcare service subsidies to help young parents balance their careers and family lives.
“There is also a need to improve work-life balance whereby employers are encouraged to offer flexible work arrangements for parents, allowing them to balance professional development with family responsibilities,” Wong stated.
“In addition, the government must provide more affordable housing to help lower the financial pressures heaved on young adults, thereby enhancing the willingness of married couples to bear children and implement a high-quality education system that is either free or low-cost to ensure children grow up in a healthy and quality environment.”
Wong went on to propose that the government introduce high-quality immigration policies by attracting highly skilled immigrants of a certain financial standing to support the country’s workforce and population base
“The rakyat’s expectations for life are to pursue high-quality living and family wellbeing, not to sacrifice the future of the next generation in order to grow population numbers,” she pointed out.
“To stress upon this matter again, the government should base population policies on the actual needs of the people while promoting sustainable development.
“While doing so, we need to avoid regressing to impractical solutions that could disrupt and destroy family and social structures.”
On Thursday (Nov 28), Rosol, during the debates for Budget 2025 in Parliament, had said the government should provide incentives to encourage marriage and childbearing to address the issue of declining birth rates.
“Maybe the government can encourage polygamy,” he proposed, which was met with both laughter and disdain from other MPs in the House. – Dec 3, 2024
Main image: AFP
Wakakka.. bagus juga ...wakakaka
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