Abandoned babies named
Two baby girls abandoned at birth during the movement control order (MCO) period have been given names by Kedah’s royalty. They can soon be adopted.
Raja Muda of Kedah Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah Sultan Sallehuddin and his wife Che Puan Muda Zaheeda Mohamad Ariff named them Aaliyah Amal and Nadia Amal.
Aaliyah was born and abandoned on May 28 at a village in Kota Kuala Muda and Nadia on June 28 in Kota Setar.
They now stay in a children’s home run by the state Social Welfare Department in Jitra.
State Welfare Committee chairman Halimaton Saadiah Saad, who visited the babies yesterday, was delighted with how well the babies were doing.
“Aaliyah weighed 2.5kg when found wrapped in a red sarong and left in front of an empty house near an irrigation canal.
“Nadia weighed 2.7kg and was found wrapped in a blue sarong behind a kampung house,” said Halimaton Saadiah.
Both babies are believed to have been abandoned by teenage mothers who had not planned on having a baby.
She urged parents to be vigilant about guiding teenage daughters.
Social Welfare Department director Azmi Abd Karim said applications to adopt abandoned babies could be done online.
“A committee will check applicants thoroughly. Priority will be given to applicants who live near where the babies were found.
“The temporary adoptive period will be two years and successful applicants will receive a monthly aid of RM250 per month for each baby adopted, up to a maximum of two babies,” he said, adding that welfare officers would visit regularly to check on the babies during the two years.
Azmi said the department had a centre where teenagers with unwanted pregnancy could seek help.
“We will take care of them until they deliver. And the young mothers can stay in the centre until they decide on the future of their babies,” he said, adding that the identities of the young mothers would be kept secret.
Pregnant teenage girls in need of help can call the government’s Talian Kasih hotline 15999.
Last year, two baby boys were found dumped in Kedah and they survived the ordeal, too.
Tengku Sarafudin and his wife named them Muhammad Adam and Muhammad Idris.