A total of 149 babies were dumped by their parents from 2009 to August this year...

Posted by Never Ending Story | Labels: News/Berita

149 babies dumped since 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 149 babies were dumped by their parents from 2009 to August this year, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Heng Seai Kie said.

She told Parliament of the total, 83 died while 66 survived.

“Fifty-nine babies were boys while 54 were girls. The other 36 babies couldn’t be identified as their bodies were decomposed when they were found,” she said in reply to Datuk Mohd Jidin Shafee (BN - Setiu).

To a supplementary question, Heng said the race and nationality of the babies could not be determined as the skin colour of the babies were similar.

She said to counter the issue of baby-dumping, the ministry had adopted a concept where it tried to assist troubled young mothers instead of bringing them to book.

When Chong Eng (DAP - Bukit Mertajam) asked whether the ministry planned to trace the fathers of the abandoned babies and charge them for abandonment, she said the police were studying the matter.

Earlier, Heng said the ministry provided shelters for teenagers and women who were pregnant out of wedlock to give birth safely as a measure to curb the baby-dumping problem.

She added that these shelters were provided through grants from the Social Welfare Department.

Heng said the department and the National Population and Family Development Board also organised programmes such as counselling, interactive workshops, awareness programmes and activities to strengthen family values.

“The ministry’s four Taman Seri Puteri institutions also provide shelter and rehabilitation for girls below 18 years old who were pregnant out of wedlock. Two Sinar Kasih centres were set up for those above 18 who require immediate protection,” she said.

“The cooperation from the Islamic Affairs Department, the Health Ministry and non-government organisations is important to curb this problem,” she added.