The country’s declining birth rate is partly due to the lack of a supportive ecosystem for women, said Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah.br br During the Budget 2026 debate in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Oct 13), the Paya Besar MP and Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club chairman said that empowering women and building a gender-responsive economy are key to sustainable national development.