For the women caring for families, driving the nation

AS we celebrate Mothers Day today, the air is filled with the scent of carnations and the warmth of gratitude.

It is a day to honour the women who anchor our families and shape our future.

However, beyond the heartfelt cards and gifts, the most meaningful tribute we can offer mothers is a society that actively supports their careers and their well-being.

Malaysia has much to celebrate in that direction this year, including support for mothers as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made during the 2026 National Workers’ Day celebration on May 1.

The Post-Maternity Leave Allowance offers a lump-sum payment of 80% of a monthly salary for an additional 30 days of leave – and, importantly, addresses the drop-off point at which many new mothers feel forced to resign.

This policy, alongside the extension of the RM3,000 income tax relief for childcare through to 2027, offers practical assistance to Malaysian mothers.

The world often treats motherhood as a penalty despite its unassailable role in continuing humanity’s very existence. Yes, yes, women must have children but, no, we can’t give you proper maternity leave or accessible and affordable childcare.

And, no, we won’t make allowances for you when you take time away from work to care for the family and want – or in most cases nowadays, need – to return to the workforce.

But things are getting relatively better nowadays.

Policies easing the financial burden of the first few months of parenthood and the subsequent years of schooling help to provide women with the agency to reclaim their professional identities.

The tax incentives for the Career Comeback programme – offering employers a 50% additional tax deduction (on top of the standard 100%) for up to 12 months for hiring women returning from a career break of at least two years – is a great policy.

We are moving away from an old-fashioned mentality and towards recognising the resilience of women. When we encourage women to return to the workforce, we aren’t just filling vacancies; we are reintroducing experience back into our economy.

However, policies are only the first step. For these initiatives to succeed, there must be a cultural shift. We must dismantle the stigma and lack of understanding surrounding flexible work arrangements, especially since they are now a legal right under the updated Employment Act. And we must also encourage fathers to play an equal role to ensure that parenting policies are not viewed solely as women’s issues.

This Mothers Day, let us commit to a future where mothers don’t have to sacrifice professional lives to have a family.

Happy Mothers Day to all the incredible women driving our homes and the nation forward.