M’sians urged to protect their children from the pull of the digital world
PUTRAJAYA: The younger generation risks being pulled away by the digital world without strong family bonds, says Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
As such, the Prime Minister’s wife said Malaysians should nurture warmth and understanding at home.
“There are a lot of issues regarding children these days, and without doubt, we have to realise that our family is the fortress to protect them,” she said in her speech at the launch of the Kasih Madani 2.0 programme in conjunction with the National Family Month 2025 celebration here yesterday.
Also present was Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
Dr Wan Azizah advised families to monitor their children closely and take note of any changes in their emotions or behaviour.
She said this can happen when children open up to their families without fear of being judged, adding that the family institution is an important foundation in developing the nation.
The Kasih Madani 2.0 programme consists of two modules, namely Modul Romantika Cinta and Modul Kebapaan.
Hands-on lesson: (From left) Dr Wan Azizah and Nancy watching a parent learning to change a baby’s diaper on a practice doll during the National Family Month 2025 event in Putrajaya. — CHAN TAK KONG/ The Star
The Modul Romantika Cinta aims to strengthen love in marriage and guide couples to communicate and resolve conflicts better, while the Modul Kebapaan focuses on the role of fathers as family leaders, including their responsibilities as protectors and providers.
Explaining the content of the programme, Nancy said Modul Romantika Cinta is designed for newlyweds, especially those married for one to five years who are looking to start a family.
“For Modul Kebapaan, we focus on fathers as leaders because children often see them as authority figures, and we want to help fathers foster strong, positive leadership within the family,” she told reporters after the event.
Nancy highlighted that this module is not about asking fathers to swap roles with their wives, but rather to balance it.
“Mothers usually do chores at home while fathers are breadwinners.
“In this module, we teach about balancing roles so that both can provide financially and attend to household needs. This should be normalised in a family.
“Strengthening family values is not just a policy, but the heartbeat of the nation’s social well-being,” she added.
A participant of the programme, Rasyiqah Zaidee, 29, agreed with the initiative.
“Fathers play a leadership role in the family, not just as a breadwinner. In this era, they play a bigger role.
“Everything a father does reflects the entire family. When my two-year-old son grows up, he will take the positive example of him as well.
“But of course, it’s not a one-man show; together, we work our way to create a supportive and loving family,” said the teacher.
The event began with a variety of family activities, including a fun run. There were also interactive booths.
Rasyiqah said it is a perfect weekend for family bonding.
Hajar Zulkepli, 32, a marketing executive, said she and 11 relatives enjoyed the activities.
“Since most of us are working, it’s really hard to find a suitable time to meet.
“Thanks to this event, it’s a way for us to strengthen the family bond and spend time with each other.”
During Budget 2026, a total of RM4.1bil had been allocated to the ministry to implement various high-impact programmes.
