Management Of Baby Dumping In Malaysia: A Qualitative Study

• Main Authors: Nurhafizah Mohd Sukor, Rezki Perdani Sawai, Mohd Mahyeddin Mohd Salleh, Mustafa ‘Afifi Ab Halim, Dini Farhana Baharuddin, Joki Perdani Sawai
• Published: Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia 2017
• Subjects: pembuangan bayi, baby hatch, pengurusan.
• Online Access: http://ddms.usim.edu.my:80/jspui/handle/123456789/14393
• Institution: Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia

Abstract The cases of foetus and infant dumping have been robustly reported in the media and immediate attention should be taken due consideration to tackle the preventive issues of baby abandonment. An aspect of prevention of baby abandonment is through the establishment of baby shelter. This study is aimed to identify the best practice of managing baby shelters in Malaysia setting which takes into consideration the social, cultural, religious and legal aspects. This paper focuses on the discussion of the findings based on a qualitative research that was conducted based on semi-structured interviews. The interviews were conducted among officers in Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat, Polis DiRaja Malaysia and OrphanCare in 2013. It was suggested that at present, the management of baby dumping in Malaysia is focusing on the remedial issues in which efforts are exerted by establishing shelters for abandoned babies. The Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat, operating under the the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, police departments and hospital agencies are all responsible for handling the reported cases of abandoned babies. There are also other groups in the society, such as OrphanCare that support the establishment of baby shelters. The findings also suggested that the religious affiliation should also play an active role in curbing these issues particularly in decision making and consultation. There are areas of limitations found in this study which require further investigations. The issues and challenges faced in tackling this phenomenon need to be taken into account to exert proactive and preventive actions. The discussion and conclusion are elaborated in this paper. Abstrak Kes-kes pembuangan janin dan bayi telah banyak dilaporkan dalam media dan perhatian seqajarnya perlu diambil untuk menangani isu-isu pencegahan pembuangan bayi. Satu aspek pencegahan pembuangan bayi adalah melalui penubuhan tempat perlindungan bayi. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti amalan terbaik dalam menguruskan pusat perlindungan bayi yang dibuang di Malaysia yang mengambilkira aspek-aspek sosial, budaya, agama dan undang-undang. Kajian ini menumpukan kepada perbincangan mengenai penemuan berdasarkan penyelidikan kualitatif yang dijalankan berdasarkan temu bual separa berstruktur. Temuramah dijalankan di kalangan pegawai di Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat, Polis DiRaja Malaysia dan OrphanCare pada tahun 2013. Menurut hasil kajian, pengurusan pembuangan bayi di Malaysia memberi tumpuan kepada isu-isu pemulihan dijalankan dengan mewujudkan pusat-pusat perlindungan untuk bayi. Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat, yang beroperasi di bawah Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat, Jabatan Polis dan agensi hospital bertanggungjawab untuk mengendalikan kes yang dilaporkan. Terdapat juga kumpulan-kumpulan lain dalam masyarakat, seperti OrphanCare yang menyokong penubuhan pusat perlindungan bayi. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa institusi agama juga perlu memainkan peranan yang aktif dalam menangani isu-isu ini terutamanya dalam membuat keputusan dan perundingan. Isu-isu dan cabaran yang dihadapi dalam menangani fenomena ini perlu diambil kira untuk mengadakan tindakan proaktif dan preventif. Perbincangan dan kesimpulan juga dihuraikan dalam kertas ini.