How Policy Affects Early Childhood Care and Development.

In the 1970s, Malaysia implemented the First Outline Perspective Plan (OPP1), which embodied
the New Economic Policy (NEP). The NEP focused on eradicating poverty and the restructuring
of society. The Second Perspective Plan (OPP2), covers the years 1991-2000 and embodies the
National Development Policy (NDP) It aims at balanced and sustainable development. It also
aims at promoting human resource development and gives priority to the role of the private
sector as the engine of growth.
The Sixth Malaysia Plan: 1991-1995 has as its main thrust, "to sustain the growth and
momentum and manage it successfully so as to achieve a more balanced development of the
economy". One of the specific strategies undertaken to achieve balanced development is to
"enhance human resource development".
The goals of balanced development are based on the following:
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Firstly, the principle of growth with equity is fundamental to ensure the realization of a fair
and equitable distribution of national wealth. Secondly, a balanced societal development is
conducive to the maintenance of social and political stability. Thirdly, the nurturing and
moulding of a Malaysian society with high moral values and ethics as well as positive attitudes
are fundamental towards the creation of a responsible, resilient, progressive and caring
society...The balanced development of the economy is essential to ensure stable growth,
minimize social conflicts, promote racial harmony and enhance national unity. (Sixth
Malaysia Plan: 1991-1995, 5)
With the above parameters of national development, Malaysia has in the last twenty years
experienced rapid changes economically and socially. There have been increasing education and
employment opportunities for women. For example, the proportion of women classified as unpaid
family workers fell from 39.7% in 1970 to 21.6% in 1990. This was largely due to the absorption
of women into the modern economy. The proportion of women classified as 'employee' rose from
38.9% in 1970 to 62.9% in 1990. (Sixth Malaysia Plan: 1991-1995, 415.) Women's participation
in the labour force has increased significantly since the Sixth Plan began. Between 1970 and
1990 women's participation rate increased slowly, from 31% in 1970 to 32.7% in 1980, 34.6% in
1985 and 35% in 1990. In 1993 it was 47%. (Mid-Term Review of the Sixth Malaysia Plan: 1991-
1995, 239) Thus, increasingly women are entering the labour force. This has impacted on their
role within the family.
There have been other changes which have influenced family life. Over the past twenty years
there has been a significant rural-urban migration, as well as resettlement programmes engaging
rural communities in land development and rehabilitation schemes. These have disrupted the
traditional extended family structure; many families now live as nuclear families. This means that
women lack the traditional supports in terms of child care, thus creating an increase in the
demand for alternative care of young children.
Since the 1970s, and due to the emphasis given to the importance of education, there has also
been an increased awareness among parents, government and non-governmental agencies
(NGOs) of the importance of preschool education for five-and six-year-old children. Given
parental demand, there is a rapidly increasing involvement of the private sector in providing