PETALING JAYA: A child and family development specialist has called for efforts to improve the accessibility and trustworthiness of baby hatches, saying the high rate of baby dumping in Malaysia shows that unwed mothers either do not know about them or have no confidence that their anonymity will be protected.
Racheal Kwacz, who has a website promoting her services, told FMT there was apparently a lack of awareness about the availability of hatches and also a distrust of them.
“People are concerned about criminal repercussions and the lack of anonymity,” she said. “The focus then is to make these hatches accessible, approachable and safe.”
The government launched a baby dumping prevention campaign in August 2019 and it was revealed then that 64% of more than one thousand babies dumped between 2010 and May 2019 were found dead.
Last October, a news report quoting a Bukit Aman official said police recorded 424 cases of baby dumping nationwide between 2018 and September this year.
Speaking to FMT, Parent Action Group for Education chairman Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said the high incidence of baby dumping could be associated with an increase in sexual activity among minors influenced by social media and driven by peer pressure and family instability.
“This is worrying because it can lead to unsafe sex and unwanted pregnancies, compounding social problems,” she said.
Azimah said the country would not see an increase in baby dumping if Malaysian society were to reinforce value systems that guide behaviours.
Women’s Aid Organisation deputy executive director Yu Ren Chung called for a sex education policy based on evidence provided by research.
“Research shows that age-appropriate sex education works as it covers health and safe sex practices,” he told FMT.
“With better information, some young people may choose to delay sex. Those who choose to have sex can do so safely.” - FMT
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