The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development began an 18-month National Gentleman Study in July 2026 under the 13th Malaysia Plan to empower men and improve family well-being and national development [1, 2, 3]. The effort seeks to nurture resilient, responsible men by addressing emotional stability, mental health, maturity, character, financial literacy, parenting, and social support—beyond traditional leadership or economic roles [1, 2, 3].

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri stressed the need for men’s empowerment to be grounded in gender respect and treating women as equal partners. She said, "The empowerment of men must be viewed from a comprehensive framework, not just from the leadership or economic aspects, but encompassing spiritual strength, emotional stability, mature thinking, and the ability to bear amanah responsibly" [1]. She added, "A gentleman is not someone who dominates, but one who leads with wisdom, shares responsibilities and respects women as equal partners in building strong families" [3]. The minister's remarks in Mandarin emphasized a culture of mutual respect and dignity between genders [2].

The initiative responds to significant social challenges. The 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey found 4.6% of Malaysians aged 16 and above suffer from depression [1, 2, 3]. Male suicide rates are nearly three times higher than female rates, according to Health Ministry statistics cited by the minister [1, 2, 3]. Economic pressures weigh heavily on families, with household debt reaching 84.3% of GDP per Bank Negara Malaysia data [1, 2, 3].

Social trends show rising strain on the family unit. Divorce cases rose 4.1% to 60,457 in 2024 [1, 2, 3]. Police data for 2025 reveals that 95% of domestic violence perpetrators were men [1, 2], highlighting the urgency of addressing male behavior and support structures.

The National Gentleman Study kicked off with the Men’s Empowerment Consultative Forum held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre on July 2, 2026. The forum provided a platform for stakeholders to share input for shaping policies [1, 2, 3].

The 18-month study will continue gathering data and stakeholder views to formulate targeted policies and initiatives aimed at empowering men as responsible family and community contributors.