By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, March 25: A baby girl was abandoned and found safe at the baby hatch facility of Borneo Medical Centre (BMC) around 5.50am yesterday (March 24).
Sarawak Minister of Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing (KPWK) Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said BMC’s initial examination on the baby has indicated that she is healthy.
“The baby has been sent to Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) for further examination and surveillance before the issuance of a temporary court order to place the baby under a ‘rumah kanak-kanak’ (children’s home).
“Once the baby is placed under a children’s home, we will proceed with registering the baby’s birth certificate,” she said at a press conference held at BMC here today.
She also mentioned that the baby’s guardian would later assist in the application for citizenship under Article 15(a) of the Federal Constitution.
She further said that there are already people who are showing interest in adopting the baby.
Therefore, she called on the baby’s mother or next-of-kin to come forward within a month if they changed their mind and wanted to take back the baby or assist in her registration process.
“If the mother or the next-of-kin does not come forward after a month, we will proceed with the guardianship process for those who wish to adopt the baby.
“Guardianship will allow the baby to be under the care of their guardian for two years before the adoption process takes place,” she explained.
Fatimah also pointed out that the abandoned baby was the first to be rescued through the BMC’s baby hatch facility.
She also reiterated the function of the baby hatch, which will ensure the safety of the baby and that the identity of the mother or the person who left the baby will not be known.
She then expressed her gratitude to BMC Kuching for setting up the baby hatch, which would help reduce the number of baby dumping cases in unsafe places.
As of March 24, there are three baby dumping cases recorded in Sarawak so far, excluding the baby that was rescued at BMC’s baby hatch facility yesterday.
If the biological mother or the next-of-kin wishes to come forward, please contact 013-806 3635 to assist in the baby’s registration process.
Again, Fatimah assured them that their identity would remain protected throughout the process. — DayakDaily
