SPEECH BY MDM RAHAYU MAHZAM, MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFORMATION & MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AT THE CIRCLE OF CARE CONFERENCE 2026, 24 SEPTEMBER 2026

Chairperson and Members of the Board
Distinguished guests and speakers
Ladies and gentlemen 

1.             Good morning. It is my pleasure to join you here today at Babes’ inaugural Circle of Care Conference.

2.             For more than two decades, Babes has journeyed alongside pregnant youths, young parents and their families. Through this work, Babes has developed deep understanding of the challenges they face and the support they need. At the heart of this work is Babes' mission: to support and empower pregnant teens to make informed and confident choices for themselves and their babies.

3.             As Patron of Babes – a new role that I have taken on and something that I am absolutely thrilled about, I am very pleased to support Babes’ efforts to advance the mission through today’s conference and would like to commend Babes for bringing together partners from social service, healthcare and education sectors, community partners and individuals with lived experience to meet, share and learn from one another. I am heartened to see such a strong gathering of individuals committed to supporting youths at risk and young families.

4.             Beyond sharing knowledge, today’s conference creates an opportunity to strengthen relationships and foster closer collaboration across sectors, so that we can better support young people and their families.

5.             The conference’s theme, “Empowering Voices, Shaping Futures”, highlights the importance of cross-sector collaboration in ensuring that vulnerable youths and young families receive appropriate and coordinated support at each stage of their journey.

6.             While the incidence rate of pregnancy among teenagers over the past five years has remained largely unchanged, at about 4 in 1,000 teenage females, these stories are a reminder that behind every statistic is a young person and family who may require support for needs that cut across several domains. Some may be coping with difficult family circumstances, disruptions to their education, financial pressures, limited peer support or social stigma. For those who choose parenthood, they may need support to continue their education, develop parenting skills and build a stable future for themselves and their children.

7.             This is why a strong circle of care is so important. We need different parts of the ecosystem to work together with young people, including healthcare professionals, social service practitioners, educators, families and community partners. As a young person’s circumstances change, these services must remain connected so that support does not become fragmented throughout her journey.

8.             We must also recognise the value of lived experience. Young people and their families who have walked these journeys often offer insights that can help us understand where our systems are working well, where gaps remain and how support can be made more accessible and responsive.

9.             We also thank the speakers who have chosen to share their journeys with us so candidly. Their willingness to speak openly and candidly about difficult experiences, including challenges they have faced and overcome, takes immense courage. By sharing their stories, they help others feel less alone and contribute valuable perspectives that can help shape more responsive support systems.

10.          When we bring their perspectives together with professional knowledge and frontline experience, we can develop a clearer understanding of what young people need and strengthen the support we provide.

11.          Ultimately, our shared goal is clear. Young people and their families should be treated with dignity, receive the appropriate support, and be empowered to move forward with hope and confidence.

12.          I hope today’s conversations will lead to greater understanding, stronger connections and collaboration across sectors. Together, let us strengthen the circle of care so that no young person has to navigate life’s challenges alone.

13.          Thank you, and I wish everyone a meaningful and fruitful conference.