The Federation of Chinese Associations of Malaysia or Hua Zong is worried that the number of Chinese in the country is dwindling. According it’s president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah ,official statistics show Malays account for 62.2% of the population, followed by Chinese at 22.5% and Indians 6.8%.And he went on to say “the number of Chinese is projected to drop further to 20.6% by 2020”. That is just ten years away. Pheng is worried “if the trend is not checked, the Chinese will one day become a minority group in the country”. So he suggested the Chinese community “launch a campaign to boost its population growth”. The Tan Sri however did not give specifics and details. Just how the Chinese community is to “boost its population growth’, Pheng is not telling. Not least not in public, openly. So I suppose we all have to use our own “imagination” and “creativity”.

From Hau Zong president to Argentine president. Through reports from Buenos Aires we are told that the President of Argentina has recommended pork as an alternative to Viagra because she spent a “satisfying weekend with her husband after eating barbecued pork”.

President Cristina Fernandez was reported to have told leaders of the pig farming industry this : “I’ve just been told something I didn’t know…that eating pork improves your sex life …I’d say it’s a lot nicer to eat a bit of grilled pork than take Viagra”. President Fernandez was also quoted as saying after she recently ate pork “things went very well that week end, so it could well be true”.

So I asked myself, are my Chinese friends not eating much pork? Could this be due to the shortage of pork in the country? Some say the shortage in supply is real. Others say its just a make belief. Anyway if eating pork can make you enjoy “wild weekends”, no wonder China is one very populated country. No offence intended folks. Its just that with Chinese New Year barely two weeks away, I thought I’d keep this piece light and easy. To go with the happy mood.

But seriously, my Chinese friends do not need pork or Viagra to boost their “prowess in bed”. They have always been “sexually active”. The dwindling cases of pregnancy has got nothing to do with their “activities”. Or lack of it. It’s not about ‘dysfunction’. Many young and modern couples just want to make sure they are good providers for heir children given present day challenges and those of the future. So to them,with not many children to look after they can spend quality time with their kids. And they can allocate good money for the kids so that the children enjoy a good life. They grow up happy, healthy, educated. Hence family planning. Effectively, what with all kinds of modern and safe contraceptives easily available. Of course there are others who beg to differ. And they are young married women who do not want to get pregnant often to maintain the shape of their beautiful body. Everyone have their own reasons for wanting a small family. Or a big family. The choice is yours.

(By MOHSIN ABDULLAH,MySinchew)