Young Malaysian Chinese are urged to have more babies as a smaller population of Chinese will have weaker voice in Malaysia

The Federation of Kwang Tung Association Malaysia adopted a resolution tabled by the Telok Intan Kwang Tung Association during its annual general assembly that Chinese Malaysians need to catch up with the Malays in terms of having babies.

Currently Malaysian Chinese have an average of 1.4 babies and Malays 2.7 babies.

In the long run, Chinese population will reduce further and this will have an impact on the Chinese voice in Malaysia. 

The resolution received heated discussion during the assembly and the secretariat of the federation is to look into incentives to encourage Malaysian Chinese to have more babies. 

President of Federation of Kwang Tung Association Malaysia Koo Yuen Kim, in a press conference later, said the declining rate of Chinese population in Malaysia deserve close attention.

He said the gap of fertility rate between Chinese and Malays in Malaysia is getting bigger. 

Koo said the federation held in-depth discussion on the issues to encourage Chinese to have more babies. 

The best scenario would be a fair policy for all races, he said.

This will encourage more Malaysian Chinese who are working in overseas to return home for good and incentives would then be not necessary to encourage Chinese to have more babies. 

Teluk Intan Kwang Tung Association president Chen Cheng Mu who tabled the resolution said Malaysian Chinese should be looking at new method to help themselves.

Increasing the population of Chinese is one of the ways, he said.

A new solution ought to be sourced in light of the declining rate of population growth, he said. 

Current scenario in the country reflects that Chinese has a weaker voice now, he said, adding this may hamper younger generations in future. 

Chen said setting up a foundation to offer incentive for having more babes is one of the methods to be considered. 

He believes Chinese who are capable would be willing to contribute to the foundation to encourage Chinese to have more babies.