FAMILY FIRST CARNIVAL: ONE HEART, ONE SPIRIT FOR THE FAMILY

SPEECH
YB DATIN PADUKA CHEW MEI FUN
DEPUTY MINISTER FOR WOMEN, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
28TH MARCH 2010 (SUNDAY)
TROPICANA MALL

Ladies and gentlemen, A very good afternoon to all of you.
It gives me great pleasure to be here today for the Karnival Utamakan Keluarga or Family First Carnival. Today’s event is organized by Persatuan Kemajuan Wanita Selangor together with local community associations. Themed with “One Heart, One Spirit for the Family”, this event aims to increase awareness among the people to be more alert about family issues as families are important in achieving a healthy and quality life. This event is also in line with the efforts taken by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) that promoting the concept of family first since year 2002.

We all know that family is the fundamental unit of the society and has essential role in the development of a nation. Family has always been the source of support and sense of security for the individual. When families break down and fail to provide support for their members, the effects will reverberate across society. In other words, the deterioration of the family institution will have negative implications on the development of the country and cause all kinds of social problems such as domestic violence, neglect, child abuse and abandonment. Statistic from Royal Police Malaysia showed that 407 cases of child abandonment had been reported from year 2005 to 2009. Meanwhile, statistics from the National Registration Department showed that 25,922 cases were reported in year 2008 if compared with 25,386 cases in year 2007.

As a result of modernization and urbanization of the population, families today are facing numerous challenges that have profound impacts on every member of the society. In this regard, an integrated approach is needed to empower and equip families with new knowledge and skills in the modern day. Nevertheless, it acquires commitment and support from all stakeholders to strengthen and enhance the family institution in the society.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This event is the first one-stop family carnival which aims to provide all kinds of services needed by the family. These services include cholesterol test, stress test, pap-smear test, cervical cancer vaccination, prostate screening, blood pressure test, financial counseling and debt management advice by Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit as well as EPF nomination. All the services provided today are important to everyone of us here, for example, in Malaysia, about 4 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each day and the vaccination of cervical cancer will be able to protect women from this disease; for men, prostate cancer is the sixth most frequent form of cancer and makes up 5.6% of cancer cases in males. Apart from Selangor as first stop of this family carnival, Persatuan Kemajuan Wanita Selangor will also organize this event in 11 states starting April this year.

As such, I sincerely hope our participants today will utilize the services provided today and would enjoy this exciting and fun-filled carnival. Before I end, I would like to commend the committees for their enthusiasm and hard work in organizing this Family First Carnival. Also, I would like to thank the companies and organisations involved: Tropicana City Mall, GlaxoSmith Kline, Genzyme Malaysia Bhd., Focus Point, Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP), Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK), MSD, Obstertrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia, Yayasan CRSM, San Seng Lum Loving Charity, Hearing Partner, Persatuan Buddhist Cempaka, Dewan Perhimpunan Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor, Persatuan Pemilik dan Penduduk Kondominium Jasmine Towers dan Persatuan Penduduk Aman Suria on your contribution and support to make this event a success and meaningful to the participants.

Thank you.

周美芬吁政府一视同仁 应援助非回教失婚妇女

2010/02/09 5:49:23 PM ●南洋商报
http://www.nanyang.com/Newscenter/articledetail.asp?type=N&ID=124617&sID=7&cID=10

（吉隆坡9讯）马华妇女组今日吁请政府一视同仁，让没有获得赡养费的非回教失婚妇女也可以获得政府援助。

妇女组主席拿汀巴杜卡周美芬说，大马是多元种族及文化的国家，尤其是走向倡导“一个马来西亚”概念下，非回教离婚妇女和回教妇女一样，会面对丈夫没有按月付还赡养费的问题。

她认为，政府应该不分种族，为全民提供福利金，包括为非土著妇女提供基金，解决丈夫没有付还赡养费问题。

首相署部长拿督贾米尔在上个月11日宣布，政府拨出1500万令吉成立一项基金，援助离婚后却无法获得赡养费的回教妇女，为期6个月。

男士也可获赡养费

周美芬说，妇女组日前与回教姐妹组织、妇女援助机构、隆雪妇女组及执业律师对话后，认为政府应成立委员会，采取有效的方案，长期解决失婚人士所面对的问题。

她说，其实男士也可以获得赡养费。

她建议，政府成立一个儿童与家庭支援系统，全面解决夫妻离异后家庭幸福的问题。

周美芬已向妇女、家庭及社会发展部长拿督莎丽扎反映有关问题，部长原则上同意探讨，并指示官员研究。

另外，周美芬吁请政府善用创业集团商业基金（TEKUN），协助各族穷人，尤其是主导家庭的贫穷妇女。

她说，政府在2008年拨出300万令吉作为援助印度社群的创业集团商业基金，2009年增加至1500万令吉，今年更进一步增加到2000万令吉。她认为，政府帮助印裔社群是一件好事，不过其他种族也有穷人。

她说，马华日前与华团领袖交流，并认为政府应该为收入低且要创业的贫穷人士，提供微型贷款。

Tingkatkan keintiman suami isteri

Berita Harian 28 Julai 2009, oleh Sariha Mohd Alisariha@bharian.com.my


(photo by CFL)

Perceraian beri impak negatif kepada keluarga terutama anakPASANGAN suami isteri yang sudah lama berkahwin sering mengalami masalah dalam perhubungan intim yang dikatakan semakin merosot, akibat wujud pertambahan komitmen dalam rumah tangga, sekali gus menyebabkan perkara itu bukan menjadi keutamaan lagi. Kurangnya komunikasi di antara pasangan dan perkongsian emosi akhirnya menjurus kepada ketiadaan persefahaman di antara suami isteri dan keadaan menjadi bertambah parah apabila pasangan membawa haluan masing-masing.

Dalam alam rumah tangga, jika ada sesuatu yang tidak memuaskan hati pasangan, ia pasti melukakan hati pasangan yang seorang lagi dan ada kalanya, hati yang terluka itu sukar diubati sehingga menimbulkan konflik dalam perkahwinan. Konflik inilah yang akhirnya menjadi penanda aras sama ada rumah tangga yang dibina itu bahagia atau sebaliknya kerana jika pasangan bahagia, jumlah konflik yang berlaku adalah kurang. Malah, keadaan ini boleh berlaku walaupun pada saat kedua-dua belah pihak iaitu suami dan isteri masih menjalankan tugas dan tanggungjawab masing-masing.

(photo by CFL)

Timbalan Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, berkata pakar keluarga berpendapat krisis dalam rumah tangga biasanya berlaku selepas lima tahun berkahwin dan di Malaysia, peratusan cerai mengikut kumpulan umur boleh dikatakan hampir seimbang pada setiap peringkat umur mereka yang berkahwin.

Ini bermakna, perceraian berlaku bukan saja kepada pasangan yang baru berkahwin, malah turut membabitkan pasangan lama. Disebabkan itu, program pemantapan perkahwinan perlu diberi bukan saja kepada bakal pengantin, tetapi juga mereka yang sudah lama berumah tangga.

“Institusi perkahwinan di negara ini perlu diberi perhatian yang serius ekoran bilangan perceraian yang semakin meningkat dengan kebanyakan kes disebabkan kurang persefahaman.

“Setiap perceraian yang berlaku meninggalkan kesan trauma kepada keluarga terutama anak-anak, malah kajian yang dilakukan sebelum ini menunjukkan anak yang masih kecil lazimnya tidak mempunyai hubungan yang akrab dan mesra dengan bapa walaupun bapa terus memberikan nafkah, menyediakan keperluan pendidikan dan material kepada anak terbabit.

“Malah, kajian di Barat mendedahkan perceraian memberi impak negatif kepada anak dalam banyak perkara terutama tingkah laku antisosial mereka, gangguan emosi, pencapaian akademik merosot dan kemurungan.

(photo by CFL)

“Jadi, ada baiknya jika kita belajar kaedah dan cara untuk meningkatkan keintiman antara pasangan yang akan diberi oleh pakar perkahwinan dan kekeluargaan dari Amerika Syarikat, Dr Huang Wei Jen, dalam usaha mengelak berlakunya perceraian,” katanya ketika merasmikan Seminar Perkahwinan Bijak: Laluan Kepada Keintiman, di Kuala Lumpur, baru-baru ini.

Majlis anjuran kementerian, Lembaga Penduduk dan Pembangunan Keluarga Negara (LPPKN) dan Focus On The Family (FOTF) itu turut dihadiri, Ketua Pengarah LPPKN, Datuk Aminah Abdul Rahman dan Pengarah Eksekutif FOTF, Lee Wee Min. Antara eleman yang sering dilupakan atau kurang diberi penekanan dalam perhubungan pasangan adalah kecerdasan emosi dan dalam perkahwinan atau perhubungan dengan pihak lain, elemen kepekaan dan perkongsian emosi amat penting.

Chew berkata, perkahwinan harus dibina berasaskan kasih sayang dan keluarga yang dibentuk dengan asas penekanan emosi yang kurang, tidak akan memiliki daya tahan dalam mengharungi cabaran.

“Usaha meningkatkan kualiti perhubungan antara pasangan berkahwin adalah teras kepada perhubungan yang berkualiti sesama ahli keluarga. Jadi, LPPKN meletakkan kepentingan pengukuhan perkahwinan melalui pendidikan praperkahwinan dan pemantapan keluarga `SmartStart’ kepada pasangan baru atau akan berkahwin yang dilaksanakan sejak 2006.

“Cabaran yang dihadapi keluarga pada masa ini menjadikan hanya mereka yang berdaya tahan saja mampu melepasi dugaan yang datang, selain perubahan dan cabaran dalam hidup.

“Jadi, kita perlu belajar resipi meningkatkan perhubungan intim dalam rumah tangga sebab perkahwinan yang kukuh sekalipun, mungkin akan dilanda badai dan terluncur daripada landasannya,” katanya.

Chew: to urge more mothers to pratice breastfeeding

Speech



A very good morning to all of you. Firstly, I would like to thank the Federation of the Chinese Associations of Sabah for inviting me to officiate this auspicious event this morning.

I was made to understand that one of the objective of this function is to highlight the joys of familyhood as a mean to boost the declining birth rate especially among the Chinese community.

Here, I would like to bring to your attention on the present birth statistics in our community. According to the Vital Statistical Reports from the Department of Statistics, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) for 2005 showed that the TFR for the Malays is 2.9; the Chinese 1.9 and 2.0 for the Indians. The TFR showed a decline in 2007 whereby TFR for the Malays had dropped to 2.7; the Chinese to 1.8 and 1.9 for the Indians. The Chinese community is shown to have the lowest fertility rate. Total Fertility Rate is defined as the number of children that are born to a women during her reproductive age (15-49 years of age).

Many factors can contribute to this decline in fertility rate. Generally studies had shown that with increasing level of education, women tend to have lesser children. Increasing level of education goes parallel with better jobs and improved income. Another contributing factor is the increase in labour force participation of women especially among the Chinese community. Good jobs are usually available in the cities or big towns. Studies worldwide had shown that urbanization do contribute to the decline in Total Fertility Rate. Studies had shown that women tend to delay or postpone their marriage to allow more time to further their education and to develop their carrier. Delaying child bearing at a later age can affect a women’s fertility, which means that as women aged, she has difficulty of getting pregnant. Data from the Malaysian Population and Family Survey (MPFS4) conducted by LPPKN in 2004 showed that the average age of marriage for the Chinese community in Sabah is 29.3 years of age for the males and 26.3 years of age for females.

No married life can be complete without the presence of a daughter or a son. A child should be nurtured and provided with the best care right from birth. In this respect, I would like to emphasise on the importance of breastfeeding for babies. As I am sure most mothers are aware of the well-known benefits of breastfeeding: providing the perfect form of nutrition to your baby, strengthening your baby's immune system, enhancing the bond between you and your child, and helping you return to your pre-pregnancy weight more quickly.

With the rise of a more internet-savvy and well-informed faction of urban women, one would expect more mothers to breastfeed. In Malaysia, however, the number of women who breastfeed exclusively during the first six months remains very low, with a mere 14.5% who breastfeed their children up to six months in 2006, compared to 29% in 1996. (Reports from the National Health and Morbidity Surveys by Ministry of Health)

Although the commonly recognized benefits of breastfeeding are already extremely convincing, research continues to reveal countless more. Some of the findings showed that Breastfed babies are less likely to be overweight or obese as children and adults. Breast milk promotes brain development and intelligence. Children who are breastfed as babies score higher on IQ and cognitive tests than those who are formula-fed, regardless of socioeconomic status or mother's intelligence. Children who are breastfed during infancy are better able to cope with stress than those who are not breastfed. Breast feedings not only benefit the babies but he mothers as well. The most outstanding benefits are protection against breast and ovarian cancers, and the possible prevention of osteoporosis. The main problem with breastfeeding in Malaysia is maintenance, not initiation. Despite encourage mothers to breastfeed at the start, many stop once they return to work, especially with the convenience and availability of infant formulas around. Having a support group is very important for a women to continue breastfeeding up to 6 month or 2 years. They should turn to friends and family members for advice.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to urge more mothers especially among the Chinese community to practice breastfeeding. As I had mentioned earlier breastfeeding provide protection against breast cancer. Breast cancer is the number one cancer killer of women in Malaysia. Malaysian Breast Cancer Registry in 2003 reported that breast cancer incidence is higher among Chinese and Indian women compared to Malay women. Incidence of breast cancer among Malaysian Malay is 1: 28; Malaysian Indian is 1: 17 and Malaysian Chinese is 1:16.

The differences in incidence rates between the Malays and Chinese can be explained in terms of risk factors known to be associated with breast cancer. This can be attributed to the fact that the Chinese are more likely to have fewer children, have their first child late, and also to breastfeed for shorter periods. Other risk factors in the Chinese could be related to their generally higher socioeconomic status and diet, with a possible influence of genetics.

Ladies and Gentlemen, before I end, I take this opportunity to congratulate the Federation of Chinese Association Sabah, Women’s Bureau, Sabah Professional Fhotographers’ Society and Board of Visitors Likas Hospital for being the organisers of this memorable event.

On this note, it now gives me great pleasure in officiating “Our Little Wonders – Our Future” Baby Contest 2009.

Thank you.

周美芬：經濟低迷家暴增長‧設支援中心解決家庭問題

星洲日报 2009-04-20

周美芬（前排中）與幸福家庭研討會工委會合影，前排右：多哈國際家庭研究及發展學院董事經理力查威京博士，前排左：國家人口與家庭發展局總監拿督哈惹阿密娜。（圖：星洲日報）

阿米娜（左）贈送紀念品給周美芬，右為理查威京斯。（圖：光明日報）

（檳城）婦女、家庭及社會發展部副部長拿汀巴杜卡周美芬指出，由於經濟低潮，家庭暴力有增長的趨勢，而婦女社會部首設家庭支援中心，協助民眾解決家庭的問題，以建立幸福的家庭。

她說，這個試驗性的家庭支援中心是設在雪蘭莪士拉央的國家人口與家庭發展局的建築物內，集中相關部門及非政府組織，為當地居民提供各項家庭的諮詢服務，如家庭暴力、婚前教育、親子教育及愛滋病輔導等。

周美芬於今日（週一，4月20日）為幸福家庭研討會主持開幕儀式後說，士拉央是家庭問題發生的熱點，家庭支援中心是在警方的建議下設立。目前，此中心正在裝修中，預定可在今年6月間啟用為人民服務。如果取得良好的效果，將會考慮在其他州屬設立。

她說，國家人口與家庭發展局與多哈國際家庭研究學院舉辦建立健全、穩固及幸運家庭研討會，吸引多個國家專家參與，包括卡塔爾、紐西蘭、尼泊爾、韓國及菲律賓等齊集一堂交流、研究及交換心得。

她指出，婦女社會部官員參與會議從吸收新的模式及方法，可作為協助建立幸福家庭的藍本，尤其是每逢經濟放緩，家庭暴力也隨之增加，主要是因素是面對財務挑戰及生活壓力而引發。

愉快氣氛下長談周美芬已晤曾亞英
也是馬華婦女組主席的周美芬說，她在週日（4月19日）已會見了告假的柔佛州馬華婦女組主席曾亞英，兩人在愉快氣氛下長談，並有了很好的溝通。

早前，曾亞英突然告假，引起政壇諸多的猜測，包括曾亞英告假方式是向黨領導層表達不滿。

Family support centre to back community-based programmes

The Star News ：Tuesday April 21, 2009

GEORGE TOWN: The National Population and Family Development Board is concentrating more on community-based programmes by setting up the first ever Family Support Cen­tre in Selayang, Selangor.

Deputy Women, Family and Community De­­velopment Minister Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said the centre, a joint effort by the Go­­vernment and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), should be up and running by June.

“This will be the first centre of its kind providing services and assistance to people and families at risk. These include those with family or parenting problems, victims of domestic violence or families who have members involved with drugs.

“The counselling, therapy and mediation will be provided by NGOs who can provide professional skills,” she said after launching the Resilient Families Discourse: Research and Evidence-based Interventions at a hotel in Ba­­tu Feringghi here yesterday.

Chew added that Yayasan Salam Malaysia and the Malaysian Psychological Association had already pledged their services to the upcoming centre.

“We welcome and urge other NGOs to register with us and get involved, especially those who speak Tamil and Chinese dialects. As it is a community-based programme, we hope to get volunteers as well.”

She added domestic violence was on the rise, mainly because of financial constraints brought about by the economic downturn.

The board’s director-general, Datuk Aminah Abdul Rahman, said Selayang had been chosen as police had identified it as a hotspot.

“We are in the process of renovating a building to be turned into the centre which will also provide refuge and shelter for families and individuals at risk.

“The running of the centre will be completely given over to NGOs with the board maintaning a skeleton staff to assist,” said Aminah who was overseeing the two-day forum.

The Resilient Family Discourse was jointly organised by LPPKN and the Doha International Institute of Family Studies and Development.

Some 50 participants from eight countries are taking part in the forum.