Dr Kelvin Yii (PH-Bandar Kuching) cited the discovery of a six-week-old baby boy, abandoned at a laundromat in Subang Jaya early yesterday morning.
“I know this is not an isolated incident. This is very worrying. The matter is being investigated by the police under Section 317 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail sentence of up to seven years,” Yii said in the Dewan Rakyat.
He said while heavy sentences are usually seen as a deterrent, they actually do not help, judging from the government’s similar efforts with cases of attempted suicide.
“Cases remain high. We are not tackling the root issues. They (parents) need psychological support.”
According to a report by Subang Jaya Echo, the baby was found wrapped in a shirt by a woman at 5am, who took him in before calling the police.
He was rushed to Shah Alam Hospital by the Subang Jaya community ambulance team. Subang Jaya assemblyman Michelle Ng, who was attending the Selangor assembly at the time, also rushed to the scene after being notified by locals.
In Parliament today, Yii called for a compassionate approach to the problem of baby dumping. He said that many factors were involved, such as where the baby was left.
“We may say that there is a difference between them being left in a rubbish bin, or in front of a shop. The latter shows intent for the baby to be found,” he said.
He said the items left with abandoned babies, as well as their age, should also be taken into consideration.
“In the Subang Jaya case, the baby was left with an adult shirt, headscarf, a pair of mittens, and socks. This tells me that the parents do not have much, and may have tried their best to care for the baby.
“There may also be a difference between a baby abandoned right after birth, or a month after, or even longer. In this case, it was around a month. The parents may have tried their best, but felt that their baby would be better off in the care of others.”
Yii also noted the problem of post-partum depression, which he claimed almost 80% of young mothers experience.
“With all these considerations underlined, is it fair for us to continue being punitive? We should look at the matter with more detail and compassion. We know that many factors are behind such cases.
“I know that there is good intention behind the existing laws, but we should study them again.”