Pakatan Harapan must address previous government’s shortcomings in tackling child stunting — Derek Kok
MAY 15 — The implications of stunting are extremely serious, both for the child and country, if left unaddressed by the present government.
The new Pakatan Harapan administration in November 2018 announced that the government will tackle malnutrition through the National Child Wellbeing Roadmap. In its 2019 Budget, the government has allocated RM50 million for treating rare diseases, hepatitis C cases and stunted growth among children.Stunting is the inability of children to reach their potential height for their age.
Care and feeding practices are also unsatisfactory. High anaemia rates suggest that nutrient requirements for women are not being met. On the other hand, 19.2 per cent of Malaysian children aged 6-23 months do not achieve the prescribed minimum meal frequency of two meals a day, while 33.6 per cent of Malaysian children do not consume at least four food groups daily.
Firstly, the government must make fighting child stunting a matter of national priority by establishing high-level political mechanisms to drive solutions. These mechanisms should include the involvement of the Prime Minister as chair of a multi-agency steering committee to address child malnutrition; and the establishment of a bipartisan Parliamentary standing committee to monitor the government’s implementation of the National Children’s Wellbeing Roadmap.
We should give this cash transfer to children from all households, not just from B40 households for a number of reasons. First, stunting in Malaysia is high across all income levels, not just households in the B40 quartile. Second, targeting all children within the 1,000-day window regardless of household income will prevent exclusion errors that are prevalent in poverty-targeting schemes.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Three things we learnt from: Dr M’s Pakatan one-year anniversary keynote address | Malay MailPUTRAJAYA, May 9 — Make no mistake, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s keynote address commemorating his administration’s first year was no tame affair. Set in the prestigious Perdana Hall in the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here, the event oozed expensive production values...
Read more »
![[WATCH] Politicians talk about their one year with Pakatan Harapan as government | The Malaysian Insight](https://i.headtopics.com/images/2019/5/9/msianinsight/watch-politicians-talk-about-their-one-year-with-pakatan-harapan-as-government-the-malaysian-ins-1126263650719690752.webp?w=640)
[WATCH] Politicians talk about their one year with Pakatan Harapan as government | The Malaysian InsightAs Pakatan Harapan marks one year as the ruling coalition today (May 9, 2019), a few lawmakers from the present and past...
Read more »
Make public understand Pakatan Harapan’s style of government: PMPUTRAJAYA: Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders need to be in touch with the people, especially those in rural areas. Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (...
Read more »
Dr M: Claims Pakatan failed Malays, Islam just diversionary tactic | Malay MailKUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said criticisms against the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government for not doing enough to protect the interests of the Malays and Islam are little more than deflection by “losing parties”. He said both issues were the easiest things to...
Read more »
Before you wake up: Mong Kok in the morning | Malay MailHONG KONG, May 10 — It can be suffocating. We are surrounded on all sides by tall buildings, many of them a dishwater brown or greying like the frizzy hair of a wuxia hermit. They seem stacked one atop the other, leaning against their neighbours for succour. And within them, and on the streets...
Read more »
Bersih 2.0 awards Pakatan 36.4 marks after one year in power | Malay MailPETALING JAYA, May 9 — The Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration “surpassed expectations” but only scored a passing grade of 36.4 over 100 from the coalition for free and fair elections Bersih 2.0 today, its first-year anniversary of its electoral victory over Barisan Nasional. Bersih 2.0...
Read more »
Saifuddin: Sandakan by-election victory boost for Pakatan components | Malay MailKUANTAN, May 12 — The Pakatan Harapan (PH) victory in the Sandakan parliamentary by-election yesterday was described as a boost to the party spirit after losing three consecutive by-elections. PH Secretariat head Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, who thanked all Sandakan voters, however, said the success...
Read more »
Pakatan needs roadmap for human rights reforms, says Amnesty International | Malay MailPETALING JAYA, May 8 — Amnesty International (AI) Malaysia today suggested that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government formulate a strategic roadmap for introducing human rights reforms. Its executive director Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu said that while PH started out strong in its aim to introduce...
Read more »
Rafidah: Judge Pakatan after its full term | Malay MailKUALA LUMPUR, May 9 — Former minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz urged Malaysians to judge and evaluate the Pakatan Harapan administration’s performance only when its current term is near expiry. English daily The Star reported her as saying a report card on their first anniversary only reflects 20...
Read more »
Activist urges Pakatan govt to declassify the secrets of May 13 | Malay MailKUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — Human rights watchdog Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) director and author Kua Kia Soong today urged the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to declassify the secrets of May 13 racial riots. “Perhaps now that the supposedly ‘new’ PH government is in power, it is time to act...
Read more »
Malaysia on track to become great again thanks to Pakatan, says Perak MB | Malay MailIPOH, May 10 — The Pakatan Harapan government is on the right trajectory to make Malaysia great again, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said today. He said under PH, Malaysia would be a country feared for its economic prowess. Ahmad Faizal was commenting on the keynote speech...
Read more »