59 cases of baby dumping reported in six months

KUALA LUMPUR: Fifty-nine cases of baby dumping were reported between January and June this year, with Selangor recorded the highest number of cases at 16, the Dewan Rakyat was told yesterday.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun said Kuala Lumpur and Sabah recorded the second highest number with seven cases each.

“The ministry, through the National Population and Family Development Board, has implemented various shortand long-term plans to enhance public awareness, especially among teenagers and parents, on reproductive heath in a bid to tackle the social issue.”

Azizah said this in reply to Datuk Rozman Isli (BN-Labuan) who wanted to know about the latest statistics on cases of baby dumping recorded by states and the long-term plans of the ministry to enhance public awareness on reproductive health and the negative impact of out-of-wedlock pregnancy and childbirth.

She said the implementation of the Action Plan for National Reproductive Health and Social Education (Pekerti) by the ministry had also helped increase public knowledge on reproductive health, especially among the teenagers and parents.

The deputy minister said among the programmes implemented under Pekerti were the setting up of the kafe@TEEN adolescent centre which aimed at increasing access to information and reproductive health service for those aged between 13 and 24.

Besides, she said the ministry had also collaborated with the Education Ministry to implement Pekerti programmes in schools since 2012 and would always strive to get more schools to participate in the programme.

“Furthermore, the Pekerti programme was expanded to Community Colleges nationwide since 2015 and also at community level involving civil servants, non-governmental organisations, community leaders and neighbourhood watch teams,” she added. - Bernama