{
  "id": 3031858,
  "title": "Training more caregivers to help Malaysians start families",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/training-more-caregivers-to-help-malaysians-start-families",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T13:01:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/08/24/training-more-caregivers-to-help-malaysians-start-families"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Malaysian government is taking steps to address the declining fertility rate by training professional caregivers, reported Borneo Post. Women's, Family and Community Development Minister Nancy Shukri highlighted that many individuals are prioritizing careers over family due to the increasing cost of raising children. This shift is contributing to a declining birth rate, which fell from 16.7 births per 1,000 population in 2015 to just 12.2 in 2024, according to official statistics. The lowest number of live births in 2024 was recorded at 414,918, the lowest annual figure since 1980. Minister Shukri noted that some women are hesitant to have larger families because they must balance work with caring for their aging parents. She emphasized the need to develop quality and professional caregivers, providing women with the confidence to leave their children in the care of childcare centers or trained professionals. While the government encourages citizens to have children through various assistance programs, it is ultimately up to married couples to take the initiative. In July, the statistics department revealed that the birth rate had dropped significantly, attributing the decline to changing lifestyles, rising living costs, delayed marriages, and a decreasing fertility rate. Minister Shukri assured that more data collection efforts would be undertaken to meet the country's fertility targets, recognizing that the government cannot remain passive and must actively encourage people to start families and support those facing fertility challenges.",
  "summary": "Women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri says some women are reluctant to have larger families as they have to work while also caring for their parents at home.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Training more caregivers to help Malaysians start families",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/training-more-caregivers-to-help-malaysians-start-families-3033024",
        "published": "2026-08-24T13:01:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}