LETTERS: Something needs to be done. This is my reaction to a report about the body of a newborn baby floating close to the Kota Kinabalu water village.
As the topic of sex is not raised in households, it wouldn't be a stretch to suggest that some, especially teenagers, have not thought clearly about the consequences of promiscuous behaviour.
Unexpected pregnancies happen as a result of this, and infants born out of wedlock suffer the most as their teenage parents lack the resources to support them financially and resort to dumping the newborns.
Malaysia recorded the highest rate of baby dumping cases in 2021.
These cases are also common in Southeast Asia.
Statistics show that every year, on average, 100 infants are abandoned. From 2018 to 2021, at least 10 infants were dumped each month.
We have laws that make it illegal and an offence for parents to dump their infants, including the Penal Code (Act 302, Act 574), the Child Act of 2001, and the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) 1965 (Act 355).
These laws have not had the desired effect.
In addition, the lack of awareness about the laws and little or no education on sexual matters are also a factor in the rising number of baby dumping cases involving teenagers.
It is encouraging that the establishment of baby hatches has been successful in preventing many newborns from being dumped and mistreated.
There is a need for the authorities and the public to increase collaboration to tackle promiscuous behaviour.
We must create a stronger support system that puts the welfare of every mother and child as a priority to curb baby dumping.
SOFEA HANY NATASHA
MOHAMAD AZHAR
Universiti Sains Malaysia
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times