Page 109 - IJPS-11-4

International Journal of
Population Studies Intergenerational transfers in Malaysia

Children Respondents Parents

Figure 1. Conceptual framework of intergenerational transfers

3. Results by Bumiputera (Sabah and Sarawak) (22.6%), Indian
and Others (9.5%), and Chinese (8.8%). The majority
3.1. Profile of respondents and amount of financial of respondents are well-educated, possessing at least a
transfers
secondary (59.0%) or tertiary level of education (16.6%).
More respondents reported having living children (92.3%, About nine out of ten respondents had a spouse. In terms
or 5,181 respondents) than living parents (46.6%, or of living arrangements, about 80% lived with their parents.
2,614 respondents). The majority of the respondents had Slightly more than half of the respondents are currently
between 1 – 3 children (43.6%) and 4 – 6 children (43.9%). working, followed by homemakers (30.5%), retired
Only 12.5% of the respondents had more than 7 children. (11.7%), and not working due to labor market reasons
On the other hand, more than half of the respondents had (4.7%). Sixty percent of the respondents reported having
only one living parent while only 3.2% still had all four good health, while only 7.7% had poor health. Almost
living parents, including parents-in-law. About 31% of one-quarter of the respondents (24%) had no income,
the respondents also had at least one parent and one child while 16% earned more than RM 3,000. About one out
alive. of five respondents received financial assistance from the
Among respondents who have living children, the government. Those who took care of their grandchildren
pattern declines with age. There are more male (57%) account for 16.4% of the sample, while 18.3% helped their
than female respondents (43%). Malay comprised about children with household chores (Table 2).
60% of the respondents, followed by Bumiputera (Sabah Overall, there is an upstream flow of financial transfers.
and Sarawak) (22.3%), Indian and Others (10.5%), and More respondents were observed to be receiving financial
Chinese (10.1%). Bumiputera (Sabah and Sarawak) support from their children (48.1%), than providing it
consists of various Bumiputera ethnicities living in Sabah (41.4%). The median amount received by the respondents
and Sarawak, including Iban, Dusun, Bajau, and Bugis. from their children is RM 283 monthly. Meanwhile,
Meanwhile, the category “Others” refers to respondents of respondents reported giving lower financial support to
mixed parentage and those having permanent residence their children with a median of RM 252/month.
status. About a third quarter of the respondents had a The proportion of respondents giving financial support
primary school qualification, while only 12% had a tertiary to their parents is 20.7%, substantially higher than the
level of education. More than 80% of the respondents amount transferred in the opposite direction (2.1%). The
had a spouse, while the rest had no spouse (either never median monthly amount given to parents is RM 100,
married, widowed, divorced, or separated). The majority whereas the median amount received from parents is RM
of the respondents lived together with their children 50 (Table 3).
(77.6%). The proportion of respondents who are currently
working and homemakers is quite similar, at 38%. About 3.2. Bivariate analysis
20% have retired while 5% are not working due to labor
market reasons (e.g., unemployed, temporarily laid off, 3.2.1. Giving and receiving financial transfers
on sick leave, disabled, and unable to work). Half of the Tables 4 and 5 compare the distribution of respondents,
respondents reported having good health. Only 12% whether they gave or received financial transfers from four
admitted they have poor health. Slight more than a quarter different situations, that is, none, children only, parents
of the respondents (28%) had no income, while 11.3% only, or both.
earned more than RM 3,000. About 15% of the respondents The proportion of those who did not provide any
received financial assistance from the government. With financial support to their children or parents is found to
regards to non-financial support, 17.1% reported taking be prevalent among respondents who are males, older,
care of their grandchildren, while about 20% helped their Chinese, had a lower level of education, had no spouse,
children with household chores (Table 1). currently not working, earned lower income, and had

Similarly, the proportion of respondents who still have poorer health. Meanwhile, the percentage of respondents
living parents declines with their age. There are more who provided financial transfers only to their children
male (57.5%) than female (42.5%) respondents in this was observed to be higher among those who are female,
sample. The biggest proportion is Malay (59.2%), followed younger, Malay, Bumiputera (Sabah and Sarawak), had a

Volume 11 Issue 4 (2025) 103 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.1326