Johor executive councillor Liow Cai Tung has expressed concern after Johor is listed to have the highest number of baby dumping cases in the state in the country this year.
Citing figures obtained from the police and state welfare department, Liow stated that Johor recorded 13 baby-dumping cases for the year, up to July.
Of these, Johor Bahru recorded the highest number, followed by Batu Pahat and Kulai, she said.
The figure did not include babies found dead as those numbers are not reported to the welfare department.
“Johor takes a serious view on the statistics which show the highest number of baby-dumping cases occurred in this state.
“Awareness programmes on social issues must continue as these efforts will reduce the number of baby dumping cases.
“Youths must be given accurate information to curb this problem, as all efforts begin with education,” the state tourism, women, family and community development committee chairperson said.
She added that state programmes, such as seminars and the 'Diriku Permata Berharga (Dermaga)' programme by Darul Takzim Family Development Foundation (YPKDT), are aimed at educating communities on the importance of reproductive health and the implications of pre-marital sex.
Johor has allocated RM100,000 in its Budget 2019 for the programme to be conducted in 12 schools, the Johor Jaya assemblyperson added.
“Besides this, the Generasi Ku Sayang programme, established in Johor since 2014 to help teenagers pregnant out of wedlock, in avoiding incidents of mother and child deaths, have recorded 109 trainees... between the ages 16 to 20 years.
“There are seven trainees at GKS centres in the state this year.”
She urged teenagers facing a similar predicament to call the 24-hour Talian Kasih (15999) of the welfare department for help.
She added: “Abandoning the baby is not the solution. Instead, it will only endanger the baby’s life and could result in its death.”
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had revealed last month that seven out of 10 newborn babies found abandoned in Malaysia ended up dead.
Citing police statistics, Wan Azizah, who is also deputy prime minister, reportedly called for urgency in dealing with the matter.
She said that unwanted and teenage pregnancies were among the causes.
Bernama had reported earlier this year that 18,000 teenagers get pregnant each year in the country -- that’s an average of 50 a day nationwide. - Mkini
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