When S Vinothaa arrived in Lahad Datu, Sabah, she initially aimed to write about access to medical services among the stateless, but she stumbled upon a much bigger story.

The Malaysiakini journalist discovered that babies born to stateless mothers admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the Lahad Datu hospital were given away without consent.

The shocking revelation led her to produce a special report titled “Baby Snatching: How Stateless Mums Lose Their Infants in Sabah” last year, earning her an Excellence in Reporting on Women’s Issues (Regional) nomination at the Society Publishers in Asia (Sopa) 2024 awards.

Reflecting on her journey, Vinothaa described it as a traumatic experience that exposed her to many severe community issues.

Her brief trip to Lahad Datu was triggered by a 2020 news report about a 16-year-old mother and her baby who were found dead on a grassy patch next to the maternity ward building of the Lahad Datu Hospital.

Disturbed by the incident, she proposed writing about stateless people’s challenges in accessing medical help.

Before travelling, she conducted thorough research, including meeting Aimah, a Bajau Laut woman who assisted her community in accessing medical services.

Vinothaa then flew to Lahad Datu alone in January 2023.

In a conversation with Aimah about the deceased teen mother, Vinothaa learned that Aimah’s baby was taken away from her, marking the beginning of the investigative project.

“The reason why I went to Lahad Datu was (about) access to medical (services) for the stateless and marginalised.

“It became something bigger. It exposed the extent to which access to medical (services) can go right up to a woman losing a child,” she said.

Recounting the story

Upon returning, it took Vinothaa months to speak about her trip. Even after the article was published, she found it difficult to discuss the issue.

After the first question during her interview with BFM, she became emotional, prompting a brief pause before the session resumed.

“I was very lucky that my editor understood and patiently waited for me to adjust and draft out all the information I had from the trip,” she added.

Shortly after the report was published in September 2023, The Fourth Alliance collaborated with Malaysiakini to create a documentary based on the story.

Producing a documentary

The Fourth Alliance, a collaborative investigative journalism network, aims to produce high-impact investigative documentaries and campaigns in Malaysia.

Its producer, Claire Gaunt, noted that their initial meetings confirmed the story’s significant impact and its need for broader attention.

“So, with the support of Malaysiakini, we set about building on the story and translating it for the screen,” she said.

The project took about five months, and the team, including Vinothaa, returned to Lahad Datu in January this year.

“The affected mothers we spoke to had conflicting feelings talking to us.

“They wanted to share the injustice they face, but on the other hand, they were very nervous about speaking up due to their statelessness,” she said.

Claire expressed gratitude for the support from Alliance members, who provided production assistance, editorial oversight, legal advice, and more.

With the documentary’s release just days away, she hoped it would help prevent further injustices.

The 16-minute documentary is set to be released on The Fourth’s YouTube page on Monday, May 20.

There will be a screening and panel discussion, that will include Vinothaa and Claire, at Publika, Kuala Lumpur, on Friday, May 24.