Kuala Lumpur: The family institution, as a key pillar of national development, must continue to be strengthened through sustainable family-oriented policies, said Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. The Prime Minister’s wife, who is also Bandar Tun Razak Member of Parliament, emphasized the need to address the erosion of family values to ensure social sustainability and holistic human development.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Wan Azizah highlighted that the modern world is witnessing a shift from extended to nuclear families, leading to a decline in neighbourly bonds and community spirit. She stressed the importance of reviving the spirit of kinship and ensuring that national policies prioritize the family institution as the core of development. Her remarks were made at the Bandar Tun Razak Family Day programme, held in conjunction with the Mother’s Day celebration at Taman Tasik Permaisuri.
Dr Wan Azizah pointed out that the theme for the International Day of Families – Family-Oriented Policies for Sustainable Development – aligns with the Malaysia MADANI Agenda. This agenda upholds the family as the foundation of a stable, inclusive, and prosperous society, where human capital development is emphasized alongside fiscal development.
Furthermore, she called for broader implementation of policies and initiatives to empower women and mothers. These initiatives include the National Women’s Policy and the Women’s Development Action Plan 2025-2030, led by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry. The initiatives cover areas such as entrepreneurship training, healthcare assistance, support for women’s participation in the gig economy, and subsidies for HPV screening and mammograms.
The event saw participation from over 500 families and was organized by the Kuala Lumpur National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), Kuala Lumpur City Hall, and the Bandar Tun Razak MP’s Office. Activities included Zumba sessions, free health screenings, women’s reproductive cancer checks, and a cooking competition. Also in attendance were the Prime Minister’s political secretary Datuk Azman Abidin, LPPKN deputy chairman Juwairiya Zulkifli, and director-general Abdul Shukur Abdullah.