Pas MP proposes polygamy to tackle Malaysia's shrinking population, ageing crisis

SHAH ALAM – Hulu Terengganu Member of Parliament Datuk Rosol Wahid proposes encouraging polygamy as a potential solution to Malaysia’s declining birth rate.

Speaking during the Budget 2025 debates in Parliament, he highlighted the importance of addressing Malaysia's demographic challenges, calling on the government to implement proactive measures to boost population growth.

To that, he stressed the urgent need to encourage higher marriage and childbearing rates to counter the country’s declining fertility trends.

"I would like to ask the ministry, what incentives or initiatives are in place to encourage people to get married and have children to help increase our population rate?

"Perhaps options like polygamy and other measures could be considered as part of these efforts,” he said during the Dewan Rakyat session held on Nov 28.

Highlighting the reluctance of many young Malaysians to marry and have children, he argued that innovative solutions, including polygamy, could help reverse the trend.

He also pointed out countries like China, India and Indonesia as examples of how larger populations contribute to national greatness.

He urged the Women, Family, and Community Development Ministry to prioritise strategies that make marriage and family life more appealing.

He stressed that Malaysia's fertility rate has declined from 2.1 children per woman in 2010 to just 1.6 in 2020, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

The trend threatened Malaysia's aspiration to become a prosperous, populous nation, as envisioned by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In 1982, Dr Mahathir set a target for Malaysia to reach a population of 70 million, a goal that now seemed increasingly out of reach.

Rosol warned that the country could face an ageing population crisis by 2043, with 14 per cent of Malaysians projected to be aged 65 and older.

This demographic shift could lead to a shrinking workforce, decreased productivity and heightened economic and social pressures.

"With a low birth rate and an ageing population, the country's productive energy may decline, potentially impacting social and economic growth."

"An increase in the birth rate could influence the nation's overall health and population dynamics, especially given the current circumstances,” he said.

Rosol also addressed the root causes of Malaysia's demographic stagnation, citing financial and emotional burdens as key reasons many young people delay or forgo marriage altogether.

This reluctance had led to fewer families and an alarming drop in birth rates.

"Without intervention, we risk becoming an aged nation, where economic growth and global competitiveness are compromised," he added.

Beyond polygamy, Rosol called for comprehensive measures to encourage family formation including financial incentives for young couples, childcare subsidies and programmes to reduce the economic pressures of raising children.