Too costly to raise a family? Sarawak’s young couples face quandary

 Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg says financial commitments were among the factors that young couples take into account before starting a family.

Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg said stronger economic opportunities would be needed to support a larger population. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

The cost of raising a family, including basic necessities and education, could see young Sarawakians opt against having children, premier Abang Johari Openg said.

He said financial commitments were among the factors that young couples take into account before starting a family.

“It’s up to the people, whether they can afford it or not. The cost of raising children, including basic necessities such as milk, can add up,” Dayak Daily quoted him as saying in Sibu.

Abang Johari said easing the people’s financial burdens was part of a broader effort to make Sarawak a more attractive place for people to live and raise families.

His said that his government has introduced measures including the Sarawak basic needs assistance scheme to help ease the cost of essential needs. The state government was also providing free tertiary education, he said. “These may seem like small costs, but they can add up”.

Abang Johari said the decision on whether to have children would affect Sarawak’s population growth. However, the matter could not be viewed separately from the state’s economic prospects, as stronger economic opportunities would be needed to support a larger population.

The state must look beyond its domestic market and expand the economy to create more opportunities for the people, he said, adding that this included encouraging Sarawakians abroad to return by creating better prospects.

Abang Johari said young Sarawakians must bravely transform from being mere consumers into being creators of products and employment opportunities to ensure they can drive Sarawak’s new economic development.

The younger generation must acquire new knowledge and technologies while bravely shouldering calculable risks. “We need to take on calculable risks because if we don’t, we won’t be able to move forward,” he said at the opening of the Sarawak United National Youth Organisation’s annual meeting. - FMT