Ethnicity and Fertility Differentials in Peninsular Malaysia: Do Policies Matter?

Abstract

Ethnic groups have had differing demographic responses to economic and population policies in peninsular Malaysia. Of 14 million inhabitants in 1988 58% were Malay 32% Chinese and 10% India. While the national fertility rate began falling in the late 1950s this trend was not uniform over these main ethnic groups. Although the total fertility rate (TFR) for Chinese and Indians steadily declines the TFR for the Malay population leveled off in the mid 1970s. The TFR for Malays reversed from being the lowest among the three ethnic groups in the 1950s to become the highest; the gap between Malay and non-Malay population growth rates has steadily widened since the mid 1970s. Analysis of micro-level data from the first and second Malaysian Family Life surveys of 1976 and 1988 indicate that the New Economic and New Population Policies reduced desired fertility for Chinese and Indians but had a modest pronatalist effect upon Malays. These results clearly demonstrate that differential response to broad-based population policies may change the ethnic composition of populations. Moreover if current policy remains in effect in peninsular Malaysia current demographic trends will most likely persist.

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