UNICEF-UNFPA report highlights precarious plight of Malaysia's urban poor

Documented through the eyes of children from low-income urban families: Nethra tutors her younger brother. Photo: Nethra

Six in 10 Malaysian households are unable to buy enough food for their families, while one in three report difficulties in providing enough pocket money for their children once they return to school.

These are among the findings of the fourth and final edition of UNICEF and UNFPA’s Families on the Edge (FoE4) report launched recently by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy), Datuk Sri Mustapa Mohamed.

The study reveals that crisis-intervention policies and initiatives such as Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) and Education TV programmes (EduTV) have helped in cushioning the effects of the pandemic on low-income families.

More than half of lower-income households are still unable to meet essential expenses. Photo: DM Analytics

However, more than half of these lower-income households are still unable to meet essential expenses, and nutrition and access to education are a major concern.

While the situation of low-income households has improved since the first survey (conducted in May 2020), with unemployment among heads of households decreasing from 25% to 12% and female heads of households from 32% to 16%, levels of unemployment are still higher than the national average, said Mustapa at the launch.

Low-income families need more sustained and reliable support in order to fully recover from the effects of the pandemic.

Mustapa says that there needs to be more concentrated effort in ensuring that vulnerable communities have better access to social security and social protection.

Read more: Covid-19 impact: Women and children most vulnerable

FoE4 is a longitudinal study on the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on women and children in low-income urban families in Malaysia. Throughout 2020 and 2021, the study surveyed 500 low-income families with children living in low-cost PPR flats within Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

The mixed methods study involves three components: a socio-economic study, well-being interviews, as well as child-documented photography-videography of daily life, and was conducted by research company DM Analytics. The fourth and final part is based on data collected in Feb and March 2021.

According to the study, 45% of employed heads of households are not registered with either EPF or SOCSO. They also do not have employee benefits or insurance. A majority of those who are self-employed do not receive SME-related assistance because they are not registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia or local authorities.

The latest survey conducted in February found that the median household income among participating families has recovered to 95% of the pre-crisis level, but this does not include all the low-income families.

Unicef Malaysia representative Dr Rashed Mustafa Sarwar. Photo: Unicef

“While the socio-economic indicators have nearly returned to pre-crisis levels for many families, but this is not true for all,” says Unicef Malaysia representative and Brunei Darussalam special representative Dr Rashed Mustafa Sarwar.

Nutrition and education a major concern

Although six in 10 of the families say that the implementation of EduTV helps with children’s education since most households will have a television even if they don’t have a laptop, four in 10 have reported limitations, including challenges that their children have in understanding the programmes.

UNFPA Malaysia assistant representative Jayamalar Samuel says: “The study provides a data-driven perspective on the lack of social protection available for the urban poor. It is not only their economic situation that makes them vulnerable, but also a lack of access and exposure to systematic protection.

“When it comes to the female-headed households surveyed, the report still shows that they lack in terms of income parity, childcare, employment and access to job opportunities,” says Jayamalar.

UNFPA assistant representative Jayamalar Samuel. Photo: Unicef

Female-headed households, she adds, have a high unemployment rate of 16%, which is three times higher than the national average, while unemployment among male heads of households has fallen since December 2020.

“For those who are employed, many also don’t have access to EPF, Socso or employment benefits.

“It’s important to ensure a more gender sensitive lens when it comes to policy planning and social protection mechanisms so that women heads of households will not continue to struggle in economic inequity but instead be able to rise and lead their families towards brighter possibilities,” she says.

Mental health of children affected

While there are signs of improvement in mental well-being since Dec 2020, almost half of the parents surveyed believe their children’s mental health has been affected by the pandemic, with six in 10 reporting that their children have lost interest in studying.

Two thirds of the parents said that they need parenting advice to deal with these challenges effectively.

“Over six in 10 of the parents surveyed called for advice on how to best support their children through this period and we need to take that very seriously,” says Dr Rashed.

UNFPA technical advisor Datuk Dr Narimah Awin. Photo: Unicef

UNFPA technical advisor Datuk Dr Narimah Awin says that the Covid-19 crisis and MCO have increased the stress levels, especially for the lower-income families.

“Studies show that the biggest determinant of health, including mental health is economy. It is not just that ‘health is wealth’, ‘wealth is health’ as well, so the stresses of poverty are amplified during the Covid-19 crisis and MCO.

“Women, especially female heads of households, youth and lower-income families face more mental health problems such as depression and anxiety during this time,” she says.

What is especially worrying are the impending mental health problems among children, she adds.

“One child said to the researcher: ‘Since I’m from a poor family, will my future be bleak? The other children who aren’t poor have computers at home so they aren’t missing school. But I’m missing school because I don’t have a laptop at home and I’ve to share this handphone with three other siblings’,” says Dr Narimah.

“For the adults, when it is over, they most likely will recover. But for the children who are still in their developing years, there is a risk of long-term or permanent damage to their future,” says Dr Narimah.

The study also found a high level of Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy among the families, with only six in 10 parents being willing to be vaccinated. Among those who did not want to take or are unsure of taking the vaccine, the majority are worried about the safety of the vaccines and its side effects.

Read more: What do low-income urban families in Malaysia really want?

Unexpected findings

According to Dr Muhammed Abdul Khalid, managing director of DM Analytics, the research company that carried out the study, there were some unexpected findings.

DM Analytics managing director Dr Muhammed Abdul Khalid, Photo: Unicef

“The study has dispelled myths and public perception about the low income families. It reveals that they are ‘not lazy or just looking for handouts’. In fact, they worked longer hours to support their families and those who lost their jobs during the pandemic took on other types of work, they were not idle,” says Dr Muhammed.

“Furthermore, the urban poor showed very rational financial literacy. Cash handouts provided were used for household expenses such as food and children’s education, and not wasted on items like cigarettes or alcohol as some assumed,” he says.

Dr Muhammed says that these low-income families also demonstrated a remarkable care for their community.

“These families help one another across ethnicities. When one of them isn’t able to monitor their children’s online learning because of work or other household responsibilities, the neighbours often step in help. They also share essential items such as rice with their neighbours,” he says.

Child Rights Coalition Malaysia member and Vanguards4Change founder Cathryn Anila. Photo: Unicef

Child Rights Coalition Malaysia member and Vanguards4Change founder Cathryn Anila believes that providing Internet, mobile data and digital devices for children is a good step and vital, but it isn’t enough.

“When we provide these devices to children, we also need to teach them how to use them in a health and smart way,” says Cathryn.

“Children need to be taught digital resilience so that they don’t get overwhelmed with their digital time and social media consumption,” she says.

“Also, more than online education or virtual co-curricular activities and classes, what is needed is mental health awareness and emotional resilience. That has to be taught in schools by the teachers so it’s important to equip teachers to understand what mental health is and to have enough knowledge to cater to the children especially now through online learning,” she adds.

“It is hoped that the study will encourage positive action to be taken as Malaysia mitigates the impact of the Covid-19 crisis for an inclusive recovery process so that none is left behind and to build a society that is more resilient, cohesive and productive,” concludes Dr Rashed.