NGO records more babies saved this year, highest ever since 2008

The OrphanCare Foundation has saved 78 babies from being dumped this year, the highest since the NGO was founded in 2008.

This is a 142 percent increase from last year, when 55 babies were saved, which was the highest number until this year.

The foundation has saved a total of 636 babies since it was established.

“The stigma of having babies out of wedlock is the main reason why babies are being abandoned, while a lack of education about sex is the primary cause of the rise in unwanted pregnancies, especially among young women,” OrphanCare advocacy and communications manager Riza Alwi told The Star.

Those involved are mostly female university students and the unemployed though there were also teenagers and professionals, she added.

“Many unmarried pregnant girls feel they have nowhere to turn to. They are often desperate and helpless. They lack support. They carry the burden of guilt and shame.

"This may lead them to decide to abandon their newborns,” she said.

Transit centre

According to OrphanCare’s website, it is a transit centre for unplanned babies and children who are to be adopted.

It also provides support to mothers with unplanned pregnancies.

Last month, a Malaysian student in the United Kingdom was convicted of murder when she placed her newborn baby in a cereal box after giving birth in March.

The police located the baby two days later, but it had already died.

Problematic conservatism

Riza said that Malaysia’s conservative tactic in tackling sex has led to problems in spreading awareness.

Only teaching about abstinence from sex could also further worsen the stigma, she added.

The topic must be taught to males and females, highlighting relationships, responsibilities and precautions, she said.

“Sexual health education must start early from primary school so that young people understand safe touches and sexual harassment because sexual grooming starts very early.

“Women have to be aware of who they are sleeping with, whether these people can be trusted, and why the men they are seeing want to sleep with them,” she said.

In March, Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Nancy Shukri said 509 cases of baby dumping were reported between 2018 and February this year, with police opening up investigation papers.

She said the three states with the highest number of cases during that time period were Selangor (111 cases), Johor (64), and Sabah (56).

From 2002 to 2023, the Social Welfare Department rescued 101 children classified as abandoned by their parents or guardians, she added.

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