KUALA LUMPUR: The Raja Permaisuri of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim officiated the National Mother's Day 2026 celebration, themed "Seteguh Kasih Ibu", here at the World Trade Centre.
Tuanku Zara also conferred the Special Inspiration Mother Award (Anugerah Khas Inspirasi Ibu) to ASP Nurul Zaanizila Mohd Zain, who gave birth to fraternal twins, a boy and a girl.
Nurul Zaanizila became pregnant after 12 years of waiting and undergoing fertility treatment at the LPPKN Subfertility Clinic.
"I am grateful for the award because I did not expect it. The reason I shared my story at this celebration is to encourage everyone to have an open mind and be positive. God willing, we will achieve success," she told the press.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said in her speech that the award was introduced by the ministry through the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) in appreciation of the tears and sweat of a mother.
"This edition focuses specifically on the struggle to have children, often referred to as the 'Double-Line Fighter'.
"They remain a source of inspiration and hope for other couples undergoing subfertility treatment. The continuous commitment they show is proof of the strength of a woman's soul in building a family," she said.
Nancy said through comprehensive fertility services at affordable prices and treatment subsidies, to date LPPKN has helped more than 373,000 subfertility cases, with 6,513 successful pregnancies.
She said each brought a story of hope realised and tears turned into happiness.
She also spoke about the Fertility Treatment Assistance and Infertility Advocacy Programme (BuAI) with the tagline "The Earlier, The Better", which provides financing to eligible couples to undergo intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment for up to two cycles.
A total of 47,000 couples are expected to benefit from the initiative, she added.
"Moving forward, the development of the National Subfertility Registry Data according to international standards will be carried out starting in 2026.
"It is an important element in supporting the establishment of the National Subfertility Centre (PSN) in Shah Alam, which will be operational in 2030.
"This National Subfertility Registry Data will later strengthen the government's efforts in planning, monitoring and improving the quality of fertility services in a more integrated and effective manner," she said.
Also present at the event were the Prime Minister's wife and Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Deputy Minister Lim Hui Ying and ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Maziah Che Yusoff, as well as LPPKN chairman Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim and director-general Datuk Abdul Shukur Abdullah.
