Malaysia is getting richer. Why are so many of its children still stunted?

Despite Malaysia's status as an increasingly wealthy nation, a concerning number of its youngest citizens are experiencing stunted growth, a condition linked to undernutrition. Riza Halow, a mother of six, only recently learned that her 16-month-old son's lagging development was a sign of stunting, a problem affecting many Malaysian children.

Her son, who was born at a healthy weight, exhibited poor appetite and lagged behind peers in growth. Doctors diagnosed him with stunting, a condition where a child is shorter than expected for their age. If not addressed early, stunting can lead to irreversible developmental delays, impacting cognitive abilities, educational attainment, and future earning potential.

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Before this, we didn’t know about the problem.

Riza's son is now participating in the Kiddo Foodbank programme in Puchong, Selangor. This initiative, run by local lawmaker Yeo Bee Yin, provides nutritional support, including supplements and high-calorie milk, along with regular health checks and dietary advice. The program supports around 70 children aged one to five who have been identified as having growth concerns.

Nationally, stunting remains a significant public health issue. The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2022 reported a prevalence of 21.2% among Malaysian children, a slight decrease from 21.8% in 2019. Malaysia aims to reduce this rate to 14.2% by 2030. Experts emphasize that stunting is caused by a combination of factors, including nutrition and maternal health, and its consequences extend far beyond short stature, affecting a person's lifelong development and economic prospects.

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Numerous studies show that stunting has devastating and practically permanent effects on a person’s cognitive development, educational achievements, future health outcomes, and earning potential in adulthood.