MALAYSIAN youths will be a voice to reckon with when the 15th General Election comes around but their rights to vote would mean little if their decisions are influenced by their social circles.
What youths want: Respondents of the survey believe singlehood gives them more freedom in life and marriage increases one’s financial commitment. PETALING JAYA: Youths are shunning marriage and big families amid a decline in the country s birthrate that s projected to turn Malaysia into an ageing nation by 2030.
A nationwide survey published by Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) on July 1 revealed that less than half (41.8%) of youths aged between 18 and 35 plan on getting married and most would rather have smaller families.
From a total of 485 respondents aged between 18 and 35 surveyed, only 41.8% said they plan to marry.
Titled “More Malaysian Youths Likely to Shun Marriage, Bigger Families”, respondents of the survey conducted by the varsity’s Tun Tan Cheng Lock Centre for Social and Policy Studies, believe singlehood gives them more freedom in life and marriage increases one’s financial commitment.