KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 75 cases of baby dumping were reported in the country from January to September, compared to 96 cases during the same period last year, according to statistics from the police.
Further data reveals that 48 babies out of the 75 cases reported between January and September were found deceased, while 27 were rescued, Harian Metro reported.
In comparison, out of 128 cases, 58 babies were found alive and 70 were found deceased last year.
Selangor reported the highest number of baby abandonment cases (21), followed by Johor (nine) and Perak (eight).
Last year, Selangor recorded the highest number of cases at 38, followed by Sabah (21) and Johor (14).
Baby dumping cases in Malaysia are investigated under the Child Act 2001 and the Penal Code.
The locations of baby abandonment cases in Malaysia usually include easily accessible, hidden, or less crowded areas.
Federal police Criminal Investigation Department's Sexual, Women, and Child Investigations Division assistant director SAC Siti Kamsiah Hassan said the most common baby dumping locations are residential areas, such as outside neighbours' homes, back alleys, and playgrounds.
Hospitals, clinics, mosques, public toilets, markets, and rubbish bins are also targeted locations for abandoning babies.
"Access to CCTV (closed-circuit television) in public areas and frequent patrolling helps identify high-risk locations," she said.
However, solving this issue requires more than just monitoring. It demands a shift in societal attitudes towards out-of-wedlock pregnancies and comprehensive support for mothers in crisis.
Siti Kamsiah said the stigma surrounding out-of-wedlock pregnancies is a root cause that drives individuals to take desperate measures, sometimes tragically.
"Stress, psychological pressure, and a lack of emotional support can push individuals to make irrational decisions, including abandoning their babies," she said.
Another contributing factor is the widespread exposure to explicit content and sexual elements on social media, particularly among teenagers who lack comprehensive sex education.
She said police supported initiatives like baby hatches, which provide safer alternatives for mothers in crisis to leave their babies securely.
However, she said, baby hatches should not be seen as endorsing out-of-wedlock pregnancies or promiscuity.
"Advice is also provided to expectant mothers facing unplanned pregnancies to seek counselling from non-governmental organisations, the Welfare Department, or government hospitals as a preventive measure to avoid baby abandonment and to encourage them to return to a life aligned with religious and cultural values," she said.
Siti Kamsiah said baby dumping is classified as a serious crime under the Penal Code, and perpetrators face strict legal action, including lengthy prison sentences or heavy fines.
The baby hatch initiative is seen as a life-saving measure, providing a second chance for abandoned babies by offering desperate individuals a safer and more humane option.
Baby hatches are specially designed spaces that allow mothers to leave their babies secretly and safely.
They are equipped with detectors that alert staff as soon as a baby is placed inside. Rescued babies are then placed in adoption programmes or suitable institutions.
KPJ Seremban chief executive officer Nor Aidil Ikram Muhamad emphasised that the baby hatch initiative should not be seen as encouraging immoral behaviour but rather as an effort to save lives.
"Our focus is on saving babies without prejudice. The most important thing is that the baby is not abandoned but left here safely," he said.
Since 2013, KPJ Seremban's baby protection centre has saved ten babies, including one diagnosed with HIV, he said.
He said rescued babies are sent to hospitals for health screenings before being handed over to the Welfare Department which works with the OrphanCare Foundation to ensure the babies are placed with suitable adoptive families.
OrphanCare
Foundation general manager Zakiah A. Rahman said the issue of baby abandonment must be addressed with a comprehensive approach rather than merely punitive measures.
"The community must come together to provide support and assistance to those facing unplanned pregnancies to prevent desperate actions," she said.
Since the initiative began in 2008, the NGO has saved over 600 babies through eight baby hatches across Malaysia.OrphanCare also offers specialised support programmes for mothers facing unplanned pregnancies.
These programmes guide them from early pregnancy stages, including opening antenatal records, providing pre- and postnatal care, and providing baby essentials until the child is a year old.
"We always advise these mothers to think realistically and prioritise their child's welfare," Zakiah said.
Dr Farhana Sabri, a senior lecturer in Counselling at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), noted that while the baby hatch initiative was initially misunderstood, it has proven beneficial in saving the lives of innocent babies.
She said baby hatches, however, are only part of the solution. Raising public awareness to prevent immoral behaviour leading to such situations is equally important.
She emphasised the importance of adoptive families committing fully to raising and emotionally supporting these children so that they are never perceived or labelled as "abandoned".