KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) will continue its initiative to fund courses focused on family development and parenting for employees, using employer levy contributions, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. He said the effort is in support of the National Family Month celebration.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Prime Minister expressed his full support for this initiative and encouraged more employers to send their employees to attend family development and parenting skills courses. This opportunity will be available throughout November this year, as mentioned in his speech during the launch of the November Malaysian Family Month 2024, themed “Kasih Keluarga, Jiwa MADANI”. The speech was delivered by his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, at the Kuala Lumpur Botanical Gardens today.
Anwar highlighted the significance of family bonding and unveiled a strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) to offer special vacation packa
ges for families throughout November. These packages will feature offers from tourism agencies, hotels, homestays, theme park associations, and traders. He also recommended that airlines participate by providing family packages to vacation destinations.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister urged all ministries and state governments to support November as National Family Month. He proposed that family day activities in every ministry and government agency become a mandatory annual event each November. Anwar also encouraged the private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and communities to implement family welfare programmes based on their capacities.
Anwar reminded employers that conducting family day and activities at the workplace could make them eligible for tax relief and advised contacting the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) for further information.
He noted that Malaysian families are currently confronting various challenges due to rapid social, educational, economic, and technological changes. Glob
al megatrends such as demographic shifts, including an ageing population and declining fertility rates, alongside climate change, are significantly impacting family institutions worldwide.
The Prime Minister stressed the need for collective action across society to fortify family institutions, aiming to build a MADANI family that is stronger, resilient, and prosperous. He assured that the government, through the MADANI Malaysia Development Agenda, is committed to efforts that elevate the status of family institutions.
The event was also attended by the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri and her Deputy Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad.