Cruel dichotomy

IMAGINE a baby born to a loving family, with a mother and a father. It’s healthy and happy, nurtured with love and care. It grows up with the right nutrition, goes to school and eventually becomes a full and productive citizen. There is no question that this will be the trajectory of its life.

Now imagine another baby, born in this country to a foreign mother who is not married to its Malaysian father for whatever reason. That father may not decide to take responsibility for it. If it is lucky, it may be adopted by a loving couple and brought up to be a productive citizen too. Don’t we all know someone like that?