'Baby snatching': MP wants independent probe after swift denial casts doubts

Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii has called for a transparent and independent investigation into allegations of baby snatching at a Sabah hospital.

The DAP lawmaker said there should not be compromises on this matter and those responsible must be held accountable regardless of their positions and standing.

"While the Sabah Health Department has lodged a police report denying the claims, the timing of the report which came a day after the news report was published and the speed of the internal investigation raises a lot of questions and casts doubts on the independence on the internal probe," he added.

Last week, Malaysiakini published a report highlighting multiple cases where stateless women being treated at Lahad Datu Hospita lost or were threatened with losing custody of their children.

In one case, a hospital investigation found a mother had committed murder-suicide with her child after she was told she could lose custody of her five-month-old infant and was pressured to settle the large hospital bill for her child’s treatment.

The Sabah Health Department has denied the allegation but launched an internal investigation into the matter.

Human rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) meanwhile has called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the claim.

Undocumented especially vulnerable

Elaborating, Yii said while he does not question the professionalism of Health Department workers, it is normal to raise doubts about the fairness of an internal probe as it could possibly implicate them.

"Such independent investigation must involve officers from other ministries in order to address the systemic issue.

“They must also look into the possibility of the incident happening in other hospitals especially to the vulnerable like those undocumented.

"We must look into the root of the issue to prevent the possibility of a generation of stolen children in our hospitals nationwide,” he added.

More importantly, Yii said no mother should undergo the horrific ordeal of being forcefully separated and deprived of their newborn child.

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Sabah Health Dept lodges police report over baby snatching claims