KOTA BARU: The Kelantan Social Welfare Department (JKM) will take custody of a five-month-old baby girl who tested positive for two types of drugs if her parents are found unable to care for her.
Its director Che Samsuzuki Che Noh said they would first look for a close family member to care for the baby before considering placing her in a department institution.
He said they would continue monitoring the baby, who is receiving treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital, while police investigate the case.
"We have not visited the baby because the case is still under police investigation. We need to assess the parents' situation and if both are unfit to care for the baby, we will take her into our care or look for a family member who is willing to care for her," he told reporters at the Kota Darulnaim Complex here on Thursday (Aug 20).
On Aug 12, the baby girl tested positive for amphetamines and benzodiazepines following a urine screening at the hospital, which led to the arrest of the baby's 30-year-old mother under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 and Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. – Bernama
