More than half of 104 dumped babies found dead in 2015

PETALING JAYA: An average of 100 babies were dumped every year, with more than half dead, according to police statistics.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said out of 104 babies dumped last year, 61 were found dead and only 43 alive.

“It shows that more than 50% of the dumped babies did not survive due to the condition of the dumping place and their fragility,” she said in an email reply to The Star.

Rohani said statistics showed that the number of cases last year was the highest since 2011 followed by 103 cases in 2014 and 98 in 2011.

“This, however, does not show any significant increase in the trend since 2011 as the total number is around 100 cases,” she said.

In 2014, 28 babies dumped were found alive while 75 were dead while in 2013, 32 were alive with 58 dead, she said.

Selangor had the highest number of cases last year with 20 cases followed by Kedah (13 cases) and Johor (12 cases).

Rohani said out-of-wedlock pregnant women and girls were encouraged to seek advice and counselling through the Childline 15999 – a line for children (including girls) to call and seek information or to report abuse and neglect.

Rohani said the ministry also fully supported the concept of a “baby hatch” mooted by the OrphanCare Foundation in 2010 which had helped reduce fatalities among babies being dumped.

“The existence of such services has provided an alternative choice for mothers instead of dumping their babies”, she said.

The ministry, through the Department of Social Welfare, had also established Taman Seri Puteri (TSP) and Pusat Jagaan Sinar Kasih shelter homes which provide protection and care to pregnant women and girls out-of-wedlock, she said.