NEGERI SEMBILAN: As the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2025, the world welcomed the birth of a new generation, Gen Beta. This new cohort, born from 2025 through 2039, follows Gen Alpha and Gen Z. The first hours of 2025 were marked by a flurry of births across Malaysia, heralding the start of this new era.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Negeri Sembilan was filled with joy as Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital (HTJ) in Seremban recorded the birth of 20 babies by 1:30 pm, among them 14 girls, including two sets of twins, and six boys. In Pahang, the arrival of 19 newborns-10 boys and 9 girls-was reported by 11 am. The first baby of 2025, a boy, was born precisely at midnight at Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) in Kuantan, marking the symbolic start of a new generation.

The Pahang State Health Department reported that HTAA witnessed 10 births, with additional newborns in the districts of Temerloh, Bentong, and Lipis. Raub, Pekan, and Cameron Highlands each celebrated the birth of a new baby as well. In Putrajaya, six newborns-three boys and three girls-were welcomed at Putrajaya Hospital, with birth weights ranging from 2.51 kilograms to 3.85 kilograms.

In Perlis, Tuanku Fauziah Hospital (HTF) in Kangar saw the arrival of six babies by noon, five boys and one girl, bringing happiness to their families. Meanwhile, in Melaka, four babies were born between midnight and 8 am at Melaka Hospital, continuing the wave of new beginnings. State Health, Human Resources, and Unity Committee chairman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem expressed his congratulations to the new parents, noting that the newborns included one girl and three boys, with one child being a foreign national.

The entry of Gen Beta signifies not only a demographic shift but also the potential for new cultural and societal influences as these children grow and develop in the coming years.