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3rd AIPA CAUCUS REPORT

COUNTRY COUNTRY REPORT MALAYSIA MALAYSIA WELFARE WELFARE AND THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN A. INTRODUCTION 1. Malaysia is part of South East Asian Archipelago with one part i.e. Peninsula Malaysia connected to mainland South East Asia via the long Isthmus of Kra in Southern Thailand. The other part of Malaysia with the states of Sabah and Sarawak is situated on the island of Borneo. The total land area is estimated at 330,252 sq meters. 2. Malaysia’s population increased from 23.49 million in 2000 to 28.9 million in 2010, with non-citizens accounting for 2.1 million (7.3%). The average of annual population growth rate for 2010 is 1.3%. Malaysia is a young country where about 39% (11.3 million) of the population is children, comprising those in the 0-18 agegroups. The composition of the total population comprises of about 9.16 million (31.7%) below the age of 15 years, 18.39 million (63.6%) in the economicallyproductive age group of 15-64 years and 1.36 million (4.7%) elderly people aged 65 years and above. Average annual population growth rates will continue to slow down with the declining fertility rate and delayed in marriageable age. 3. The overall population density for Malaysia in 2010 is 88 persons per sq. km. Meanwhile, the proportion of the population residing in the urban areas increased from 62.0% in 2000 to 63.8% in 2010. This trend towards greater urbanization of the population is indicative of the growing economic opportunities and better social amenities in the urban areas. 4. Looking at the socio-economic development of the country, Malaysia’s Per capita Gross National Income (GNI) at current price was RM13,418 (USD4,548) in year 2000 and has increased to RM25,180 (USD7,416) in 2010. The poverty rate has reduced from 8.5 in 1999 to 3.6 in 2007. Poverty rate is four fold higher in the rural as compared to urban areas. 5. Various development policies and strategies have been formulated and translated into (programmes and...