Chan Ming Kai (PH-Alor Setar) said the size of a population was often linked to a country or state’s economic growth and poverty rate, according to basic economic principles.

He pointed out that states like Kelantan, Sarawak and Kedah had high poverty rates, coming up to 12%, 9% and 8.8%, respectively, while the total fatality rate in some of these states was also higher than others.

“What I’m suggesting is that the government work on recreating family planning programmes in some of these states. These states have a high rate of unmet needs for contraceptives.

“This means that residents would like to plan the number of children they want to have but lack the necessary information and knowledge,” he told the Dewan Rakyat while debating the 12th Malaysia Plan today.

Citing data given by the women, children and community development ministry, Chan pointed out that the rate of unmet needs for contraceptives stood at 29% in Kedah, followed by Labuan (28%), Terengganu (26%), Sabah (24%), Kelantan (24%) and Perlis (23%).

He said family planning programmes could help to reduce poverty rates in these states while helping Putrajaya achieve its goals under the Malaysia Plan.

Chan also urged the government to underline the specific groups of Bumiputeras who were in need of affirmative action, rather than lumping them all under one category.

He agreed that there was a need to assist Bumiputeras who needed help, but pointed out that the 11th Malaysia Plan had clearly underlined Bumiputera sub-categories who struggled more than others.

“The 11th Malaysia Plan clearly states that the Orang Asli in the peninsula had a poverty rate of 32%, Bumiputeras in Sabah a poverty rate of 20% while for Bumiputeras in Sarawak, it was at 7%.

“When you combine them all together, it makes it look like all Bumiputeras are living in difficulty,” he said.