60 Years On, LPPKN Remains At Forefront Of Family Well-being Agenda

KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 (Bernama) -- The National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), now in its sixth decade, remains a key institution in strengthening the family unit as the foundation of national strength.

Established in 1966 as the National Family Planning Board (NFPB), the agency was formed in post-independence Malaysia to systematically manage population growth through clinical interventions and community education.

In a statement today, LPPKN said its evolution marked a significant paradigm shift following the 1984 amendment to relevant legislation, which reoriented its focus from “birth planning” to a more comprehensive approach to family well-being.

“The LPPKN approach became more structured towards the 1990s, with an emphasis on systematic family development, which saw the implementation of programmes such as the Gerakan Keluarga Bahagia as well as the introduction of family modules as the basis for structured interventions to strengthen family relationships, interpersonal communication and noble family values,” it said.

This development took shape amid rising social challenges such as changing gender roles, economic pressures and increasingly complex family dynamics, prompting LPPKN to view the family not just as a demographic unit, but as a social institution that requires continuous support and a more holistic approach.

According to the statement, LPPKN continues to enhance its service delivery through initiatives under the family life cycle concept, including the SMARTSTART Premarital Programme for marriage preparation and the establishment of the Family Centre in 2001 as a one-stop service hub.

“Also emphasised is the Youth Development Programme, which led to the establishment of KafeTEEN in 2006 to instil positive values from a young age, amid increasingly complex and multi-dimensional challenges facing Malaysian families,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, LPPKN director-general Datuk Abdul Shukur Abdullah said a nation’s strength is not measured solely by economic indicators, but begins at home, where values, identity and well-being are nurtured from an early age.

“An integrated approach is key to ensuring the effectiveness of service delivery. Family well-being is holistic in nature and must be viewed as an ecosystem,” he said in the same statement.

Abdul Shukur also highlighted the country’s declining total fertility rate (TFR), which stood at 1.6 in 2024, and the growing phenomenon of population ageing, with Malaysia projected to become an ageing nation by 2036.

“Therefore, family well-being can no longer be viewed merely as a social issue, but must be regarded as a national strategic priority with direct implications for economic development, the workforce and social stability,” he said.

Abdul Shukur said that as a step forward, LPPKN had introduced the KASIH MADANI Package under the National KASIH Keluarga Negara Agenda, which includes pre-marital modules, digital parenting and family mental well-being initiatives to address evolving social dynamics.

In addition, he said LPPKN is intensifying its digital transformation efforts through platforms such as the Keluarga Bahagia Portal to ensure that access to information and family support is made available to all levels of society in an inclusive manner.

He said the use of scientific instruments such as the Family Well-being Index (IKK) and the Malaysian Population and Family Survey remains the government’s main reference in formulating more accurate and targeted national policies.

“Planning for the future of the family must be based on current data and realities. Without a clear understanding, we cannot formulate policies that have a real impact on the people,” said Abdul Shukur.

After 60 years, LPPKN has evolved from a small agency into a national institution that plays a significant role in building the nation’s family well-being ecosystem.

This evolution reflects the organisation’s ability to adapt to changing times while maintaining its commitment to the well-being of the people.

-- BERNAMA