Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) will kick off the Kajian Lelaki Budiman Negara (National Gentleman Study) this month under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to develop evidence-based policies and initiatives for men's empowerment. Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the 18-month study would support the government's National Gentleman Initiative, aimed at nurturing resilient, responsible men who can contribute meaningfully to family well-being and national development.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the government recognises that men's empowerment should be viewed through a broader lens, extending beyond leadership and economic participation to include emotional resilience, mental well-being, maturity, and the ability to shoulder responsibilities with integrity. Nancy Shukri emphasized that men's empowerment must be grounded in the principle of gender respect, fostering a culture of mutual respect, appreciation, and dignity for every individual. She stated that a gentleman is not someone who dominates, but one who leads with wisdom, shares responsibilities, and respects women as equal partners in building strong families.
Nancy mentioned that the Men's Empowerment Consultative Forum serves as a strategic platform to gather views, experiences, and recommendations from stakeholders on the challenges facing men through the Public-Private-People Partnership (4P) approach. The forum's findings and recommendations will provide key input for policymaking and programme development on men's empowerment in Malaysia, including the implementation of the National Gentleman Study.
The minister also highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to empower men, as they face increasingly complex social, economic, and mental health challenges. She cited statistics showing that the male suicide rate is nearly three times higher than that of women. The 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) also found that 4.6 per cent of Malaysians aged 16 and above were living with depression.
Nancy pointed out that economic pressures have affected family well-being, with household debt standing at 84.3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), according to Bank Negara Malaysia. She noted that the number of divorces rose 4.1 per cent to 60,457 cases in 2024, with financial stress, failure to fulfil maintenance obligations, and prolonged domestic conflict identified as key factors behind family breakdown. Additionally, Royal Malaysia Police statistics show that 95 per cent of domestic violence perpetrators recorded between January and December 2025 were men.