The size and structure of the population of Malaysia at any point of time are determined by the interactions of migration, fertility and mortality in the immediate past. While an earlier chapter has dealt with migration, this chapter will be devoted to an account of fertility and mortality. As in any country, the statistics required for the analysis of mortality and fertility are derived from the compulsory registration of births and deaths. The registration system is under the overall charge of the Registrar-General in the National Registration Department, and in each state there is a Registrar in charge of the Registration Department. In each state there are also registration centres situated in hospitals, police stations and city halls in urban centres, while in the rural areas registration of vital events can be made with authorised persons such as village headmen, headmasters and estate managers. The registration laws stipulate that the time allowed for registration is 14 days for live-births and still-births and 12 hours for deaths.

The birth and death statistics are compiled and published by the Department of Statistics. The vital statistics published by the Department of Statistics since the formation of Malaysia in 1963 are not comprehensive and uniform from year to year. For most years, the statistics are more comprehensive for West Malaysia than for East Malaysia, and hence the absence of national figures for the whole of Malaysia. Some of the difficulties encountered in obtaining national figures will be discussed in our analysis of the published data in regard to certain aspects of fertility and mortality discussed in this chapter.

POPULATION CONTROL PROGRAMME

The provision of family planning services on an organised basis dates back to 21 October 1954 when the Family Planning Association of Selangor was officially established as a voluntary organisation. With the support of individuals, firms and foundations, the Association was able to open two clinics in Kuala Lumpur in January 1954. These clinics, the first two of its kind in the country, ran only weekly sessions after office hours with the assistance of volunteers. In the early days the clinics were fairly well attended by many women and, encouraged by this modest success, more clinics were established in Selangor.