A survey of 500 households in Kuala Lumpur’s low-cost flats found that unemployment had increased from 7% in September to 15% in December, with one in three adults in these households being without a job.

The poverty rate for families led by females or disabled persons was also especially high, where nearly half of them were living in poverty, says the report on “Families on the Edge”.

Dr Rashed Mustafa Sarwar, Unicef’s representative in Malaysia, said that “while some families have started to recover, others have continued to deteriorate and, at the outset of the second movement control order, were close to breaking point”.

The report showed that 63% of the households were experiencing difficulties in meeting their basic needs and purchasing daily essentials, despite government and zakat financial aid.

Unicef also reported an increasing prevalence of stress among the participants, as many were concerned over providing enough food for the family and the lack of job opportunities. Some were also worried about their children’s access to proper education.

Najib Assifi of the United Nations Population Fund in Malaysia noted that there was a change in “social dynamics” of these families as they attempted to cope with the worsening economic situation.

“With increased pessimism further exacerbating mental health issues, it begins to shape unhealthy living environments, psychologically and sometimes physically.

“None are more affected than children, those with chronic illnesses, the disabled and of course those who care for them,” he said.

Rashed called for social protection reforms to further assist vulnerable groups suffering from the pandemic.

He said there was a need to expand social safety nets to the self-employed, who have seen a reduction of income due to less business activities in the past few months, and to overall strengthen the country’s policies and programmes for families in need.