Tiang (centre) with some of the couples receiving the incentives.
As many as 263 newlywed couples and 471 babies in Pelawan, Sarawak have received a total of RM270,000 since 2022.
Each couple received RM500 while each baby was given RM300.
The incentives are to assist young married couples facing financial challenges in this small constituency of Sarawak’s central and partially-coastal Sibu district.
A 2020 census recorded a population of 288,000 in the area.
“Young people nowadays need a lot of courage and financial means, especially when it concerns getting married and having babies. It is very challenging,” said Datuk Michael Tiang, after presenting the incentives to 12 newlyweds couples and 76 newborns.
“Through this programme, I can at least give them some encouragement,” the Pelawan assemblyman said.
Tiang, who is also state Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing, and Local Government, acknowledged the need for more couples to get married, and have children.
“In 1970, the birth rate in Malaysia was 4.9 per couple, and it dropped to 1.6 per couple in 2022,” he said.
“This decline is quite serious and not good for Sarawak.
“If this low birth rate continues, very soon Sibu will become an old folks’ town.
“All of us will remain as senior citizens with no young people serving the community.”
Tiang also assured parents that the Sarawak government, led by Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, will provide free tertiary education to children starting in 2026.
This is aimed at easing parents’ financial costs for their children’s education.
On the lack of baby-changing facilities, especially in Sibu shopping centres, Tiang said he was working with the private companies that owned these malls.
“I believe they are more than happy to provide such services as it would attract more parents with babies to their shopping centres,” he said.
