KUCHING: Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah has voiced her concern over abandoned babies in the state.
She said babies often placed under the care of either the state Welfare Department (JKM) and Rumah Kanak-Kanak Toh Puan Norkiah had been abandoned by irresponsible individuals.
“Because they are abandoned, we do not know who their parents are. Their statuses are unknown, too.”
Fatimah added that as their guardian, the Welfare Department had to apply for citizenship on behalf of the abandoned babies.
“When they are adopted, it is difficult for their adoptive parents to bring them out of Sarawak because they are status less or stateless,” she explained.
Fatimah revealed that recently, five more babies were abandoned and placed at the children’s home.
“The longer the babies are status less, the more difficult things will become for them and their adoptive parents in the future.
“These are the voiceless children that the Sarawak Special Committee on Citizenship fights for under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution,” she stressed.
She revealed that from 2016 till June this year, the committee had received 723 citizenship applications, with 67 applications in 2016, 174 applications in 2017, 318 applications in 2018 and 164 applications from January till June this year.
Out of the total applications, 120 had been approved.
Fatimah pointed out that babies were normally abandoned due to unwanted pregnancies and because the mothers were afraid to tell their parents.
“Therefore, I urge all mothers not to be afraid but to come forward and seek help at our Welfare Department should they face any problems,” she said.
