Joy as couples welcome Merdeka babies

The 67th National Day held special significance for several couples this year as they welcomed their Merdeka babies, who will carry forward both their family legacies and the nation’s spirit.

At Tunku Azizah Hospital Kuala Lumpur, a check by Bernama found that 12 births were recorded between midnight and 10am today. The first baby, a girl, was born at 12.51am to Fazreenhani Mohamad Johan.

At Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, Klang, Selangor, five Merdeka babies were recorded as of 11am. Among the new mothers were Adibah Aqilah Shafee, 25, and Ainur Rahmah Ruslan, 26, who both gave birth to baby girls at 2am and 2.30am respectively.

They were among those celebrated at a programme to welcome Merdeka babies in conjunction with the 67th National Day celebration, which Selangor Environment and Health Committee chairperson Jamaliah Jamaluddin attended.

At Putrajaya Hospital, six babies were born as of 3 pm, comprising three boys and three girls. The first baby arrived at 12.39am.

Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital in Kelantan, welcomed the birth of 13 babies by 10am today, comprising five boys and eight girls. The first baby arrived at 12.14am.

Special Merdeka

In Kedah, state health director Dr Ismuni Bohari reported that seven baby girls and nine baby boys were delivered in government hospitals in the state by 8am.

“The Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Alor Setar recorded six births, followed by Kulim Hospital with five, Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital, Sungai Petani with four and Sultanah Maliha Hospital, Langkawi with one birth,” he said in a statement.

At Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital, Seremban, 12 babies were born by noon, comprising seven girls and five boys. The mothers received gift hampers containing baby items and cash from the hospital visitors’ board and Co-opbank Pertama.

In Pahang, 13 Merdeka babies were delivered in hospitals across the state by noon.

According to state health director Dr Rusdi Abd Rahman, Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital, Temerloh recorded the highest number of births with six babies, followed by Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital, Kuantan (five) and Pekan Hospital (two).

For young mother Iffatun Nisa Abdul Halim, 26, the birth of her baby boy on National Day was particularly special. Although her actual due date was scheduled for Malaysia Day on Sept 16, she was surprised by her son’s early arrival.

She hopes that her son will grow up with a patriotic spirit and love for the country.

- Bernama

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