Child-grabbing fears at the birth of the nation

KOTA KINABALU: Mahayadin Mat Zinin was born on Malaysia Day in the quiet village of Kg Tidung in Sabah’s southwestern Kuala Penyu district.

As Sabah leaders proclaimed the formation of Malaysia at the historic Padang Merdeka grounds here 47 years ago, baby Mahayadin was whisked into a small padi storage hut by his parents for fear that the government would take away all babies born that day.