Family Futures

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dvancing

ocial

ntegration

and

ntergenerational

olidarity

and development, providing direction for the development

of family-friendly programmes and services for nurturing

healthy and resilient families in line with the aspirations

of Vision 2020. The policy advocates the concept of family

well-being and work-life balance based on family values such

as caring, honesty, respect, commitment, responsibility,

justice and equity regardless of status, gender and age. The

implementation of the NFP is based on the following three

strategic thrusts and will be undertaken by all stakeholders

to ensure the development of strong, resilient families and

quality human capital imbued with exemplary values:

• increase the commitment and involvement of various

stakeholders to prioritize ‘family perspectives’ in all

socioeconomic development efforts

• ensure that laws, policies, procedures and the

enforcement of laws and regulations prioritize

family perspectives

• ensure that programmes, services and family-friendly

facilities are accessible.

The Government of Malaysia has adopted innovative and

creative strategies through the National Blue Ocean Strategy

(NBOS) initiative, which is the brainchild of Malaysia’s

Prime Minister, Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak,

to enhance public sector services and programme delivery.

Through this strategy, it encourages the participation of

the public, private and people (3Ps) in ensuring national

development. The 3Ps approach involves the partnership of

multiple stakeholders such as the government, civil society

and civil society organizations in ensuring that the present

and future generation is more peaceful, secure, tolerant,

prosperous and sustainable. This collaboration and commit-

ment will lead to high impact achievement, low cost and

rapid execution of government programmes and services

which cut across boundaries and silos and emphasizes the

‘People First, Performance Now’ concept.

Among the initiatives under NBOS, the 1MF1st and

1MYes movements have been implemented under the ambit

of the NFP, in recognition of the integral role the family

plays in nation-building and development and to further

ensure work-family life balance. In order to ensure acces-

sibility to family services and to support young couples in

early family life, family and marriage counselling services

have been expanded in government service centres such as

1Malaysia Family Centres, Urban Transformation Centres

and Rural Transformation Centres.

In 2012, the Prime Minister declared November as

National Family Month, underlining the nation’s commit-

ment towards the important role of the family and its

recognition that the family is the pillar of society. Among

the incentives given under Family Month is 100 per cent

tax exemption to any company for expenditure incurred in

organizing family activities for employees.

Another initiative under NBOS is the Mobile Community

Transformation Centre (CTC) aimed at bringing basic

government services such as family health services to

rural and remote communities. This is in line with the

Government’s aspiration to enhance the quality of life and

family well-being of its peoples. These basic services are

fundamental in bringing social transformation to rural

areas, as well as inculcating a sense of well-being and

togetherness in the nation-building process among people

1MF1st and the declaration of November as National Family Month by the Prime Minister on 3 November 2012

Image: Nor Mazlan Mohammad/NPFDB