KUCHING: Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii has called for a transparent and independent investigation into shocking revelations of infants of stateless mothers in a Sabah hospital being forcibly taken away and given up for adoption against their will.
Dr Yii stressed that there shouldn’t be any compromise on the matter, saying an investigation into the root of the issue should be carried out without delay.
Those responsible should be held accountable regardless of their positions or standing, he said.
While the Sabah Health Department on Saturday (Sept 16) had lodged a police report denying allegations that babies were being snatched in the state’s public hospitals, Dr Yii said the timing of the report and the speed of the ‘internal investigation’ raised a lot of questions and doubts on the independence of such an internal investigation.
“While I do not question the professionalism of many of the health workers within the Health Department, it is normal that many doubts are raised on the fairness of such an investigation, especially if it could possibly implicate themselves.
“That is why I welcome the Minister of Health’s stand in Parliament that there will not be a compromise on this matter and she (Dr Zaliha Mustafa) is open to an independent investigation, even suggesting to personally look into the issue by talking to the staff and even patients involved to get to the bottom of the matter,” said Dr Yii in a statement recently.
He stressed that such independent investigation must involve cross-ministry officers to properly address this systemic issue as it does not only involves the Ministry of Health.
“They must also look into possibilities whether it happens in other hospitals to the most vulnerable, especially to the undocumented.
“We must look into the root of the issue, to prevent the possibility of a generation of stolen generation in our hospitals across the country and more importantly that no mothers have to go through such a traffic ordeal to be forcefully separated and deprived of their newborn child,” he added.
Previously, a news portal claimed one of the mothers had lost custody of her child at Lahad Datu Hospital.
Sabah Health Department (JKNS) director Dr Asits Sanna clarified that the allegations raised were untrue and have not occurred in any Health Ministry hospital in Sabah and the department had conducted an investigation on the matter.
He added that a police report was also made to refute these allegations and JKNS Sabah had handed over the matter to the authorities for further action.
