Report Launch: “Demographic & Socioeconomic Changes in Sabah” by UNFPA Malaysia, University Malaya & University Malaysia Sabah

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the Population Studies Unit, University of Malaya and Universiti Malaysia Sabah, launched the landmark report “Demographic and Socioeconomic Changes in Sabah” in the presence of invited guests from government, academia and civil society.

The report, the first of its kind in the state, offers an in-depth look at the demographic changes and challenges faced by Sabah from aspects such as the population age-sex structure, health and education planning needs, the potential of youth, gender disparities in labour force participation and the state of family planning. Crucially, the report acts as a database with key metrics to assess Gender Equity and sexual and reproductive health and rights in Sabah, in line with the state’s developmental journey towards achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The findings of the study are set to provide policy and programme recommendations to enhance human capital and further support the empowerment of women and girls in Sabah, ultimately contributing to the state's socioeconomic development and well-being.

In her welcoming remarks, Dr. Asa Torkelsson, UNFPA Country Representative Malaysia and Country Director Thailand, affirmed women’s central role in Sabah’s development: “Women and girls in Sabah are essential in responding to the state’s development, and support is needed to harness their full potential.” She also highlighted how Sabah’s demographic and socioeconomic changes and the challenges that come with them could help further empower the state – with the right interventions: “These challenges also come with tremendous benefits that can be harnessed by promoting gender equality, enhancing education and healthcare services, and empowering girls, women, and youth, and making the right investments.”

The report was officially launched by YBrs Puan Hajah Haslina Ismail, Director of the Women’s Affairs Department Sabah, on behalf of YB Datuk James Ratib, Minister of Community Development and People’s Welfare (KPMKR) Sabah. In his special address, the Minister reiterated how women and the well-being of communities and the state at large were intimately linked, “Women are an integral part of the fabric holding society together; we ignore them, their perspectives and their needs at our own collective peril. Our development as a state and a nation will always be limited as long as there continue to be structural and social barriers that hold women back from being full participants in the economy and public life more broadly.” “Women make up half the population of our state, and yet there are still significant gender gaps within the workforce.

As highlighted in the report, 49.1% of married women participate in the workforce, compared to a significantly higher figure of 96.8% for married men.” He proposed that women should be at the centre of strategies to combat the challenges that come with an increasingly aged population: “Sabah has much to gain from fully harnessing the economic potential of women who currently make up half the state’s population, especially in the face of an ageing population and potential slowdowns in productivity. As of now, Sabah’s ageing population is steadily increasing, and our fertility rate of 1.4 is one of the lowest in the country, just after Penang.

Putting women at the heart of our economic and developmental strategies simply makes sense.” “To this end, one of our key priorities should be ensuring the sexual and reproductive health and rights of both women and girls.” A presentation of the report and its key findings was given by Associate Prof. Dr. Tey Nai Peng, University of Malaya (UM) and Prof. Dr. Jennifer Chan Kim Lian, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).

This was followed by a two-part panel which began with a broad discussion on Sabah’s demographic dynamics and its impact on the state’s socioeconomic well-being, followed by more in-depth discussions on gender and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Panellists included Puan Celestina Aron, Deputy Director, (Planning), Economic Planning Unit Sabah, Dr Halimatul Aris, Head of Clinical & Medical Officer, National Population & Family Development Board (NPFDB Sabah) LPPKN Sabah, Tengku Aira Tengku Razif, Assistant Representative, UNFPA Malaysia, Dr. Janice Nga, Associate Professor, Universiti Malaysia Sabah and Dr John Teo, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist.