Activist Hartini Zainudin has raised concerns about the treatment of non-Malaysian pregnant mothers and their newborns at government hospitals, alleging xenophobic attitudes from healthcare providers.
The Yayasan Chow Kit co-founder revealed during a panel discussion on the plight of stateless mothers yesterday that she had lodged a complaint with the health minister about this issue.
According to Hartini (above, right), hospitals and doctors have been discharging premature babies to their non-Malaysian parents prematurely, even when the infants are still ill and require further medical care.
She also claimed that hospitals do not allow third parties to pay the medical bills, thus preventing these infants from full access to healthcare services.
“I complained to the health minister about the government hospitals and doctors who are xenophobic about non-Malaysian pregnant mothers,” Hartini told the audience at the screening of the documentary “The Forgotten Babies”.
“They are discharging premature babies early to parents when the babies are still sick, and they are also disallowing third parties to pay bills, so patients can’t get full access to healthcare.”
Hartini’s remarks shed light on the alleged discriminatory practices faced by non-Malaysian mothers and their newborns in seeking medical attention at government facilities.
She stressed the need for hospitals to provide equal and compassionate care, regardless of the patients' nationality or immigration status.
The activist also revealed that she had previously raised this issue with the home minister, highlighting the gravity of the situation and the need for intervention by the relevant authorities to address these practices.
Plight of Bajau Laut stateless mothers
“The Forgotten Babies”, a 16-minute film, highlights the shocking revelation that babies born to stateless mothers at a Lahad Datu hospital were given away without their consent, as reported by Malaysiakini journalist S Vinothaa last year.
Vinothaa’s report, “Baby Snatching: How Stateless Mums Lose Their Infants in Sabah”, earned her a nomination for Excellence in Reporting on Women’s Issues at the 2024 Sopa Awards.
The documentary screening aimed to raise awareness about this critical issue and advocate for a more compassionate and well-regulated approach to determining a mother’s fitness to care for her child.
Anak Sabah activist Aime Marisa Chong, who was also present at the panel discussion, highlighted the plight of the stateless Bajau Laut community, a marginalised group often overlooked in discussions about citizenship and statelessness.
“There’s no voice, you know, to speak for the Bajau Laut community. And not a lot of people also dare to talk about it.
“And when politicians try to bring up the issue of statelessness and citizenship, it creates a lot of backlash because the public is very sensitive when it comes to this issue, especially in Sabah,” she said.
Chong expressed scepticism about the prospect of resolving the Bajau Laut community’s issue in the near future but emphasised the need for a proper discussion between the authorities and stakeholders.
“In the next state election, it all depends on which leaders come forward and what type of new political ideas or tools they want to discuss.
“In the long term, I don’t think the Bajau Laut community issue will be solved unless there’s a proper, mature conversation between the government and the stakeholders,” she added.
Chong’s remarks highlight the multifaceted challenges faced by marginalised communities, including non-Malaysian mothers and stateless groups like the Bajau Laut, in accessing basic rights and services. - Mkini
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