JOHOR BARU: The infant born with a cleft lip has captured the attention of state government officials and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The 7-month-old prematurely born baby girl was in need of corrective surgery. However, it could not be done at government hospitals as she did not have a birth certificate.
State Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Khairin-Nisa Ismail then came forward to render help to the child.
She visited the People's Housing Project (PPR) flat in Kempas Permai recently to hear the plight of the 68-year-old grandmother who is taking care of the infant and her three elder siblings.
The grandmother, Normah Asinar, is residing at the PPR flat provided by state Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor.
The children were allegedly abandoned by their parents, who were said to be incarcerated in Perak due to drug-related offences.
Khairin-Nisa said Normah would be granted custodianship of the children based on the declaration by the court in Perak that the biological mother was deemed unfit as a legal custodian.
"The infant is undergoing treatment at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital, while the cost of the corrective surgery and treatment will be borne by the state Islamic Religious Council (MAIJ).
She also said with the help of NGOs, namely Johor Women's League (Jewel) president Thanam Visvanathan-Suresh, the siblings would get the necessary documentation to enable them to attend school.
Jewel and the NGOs will also assist Normah on the children's welfare.
Meanwhile, MAIJ chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid said the council had gone through the infant's documents.
"We inspected the infant's hospital documentation upon her birth. Based on what we have, we think her birth was not registered with the National Registration Department.
"Normah could have registered the infant and got her a birth certificate… maybe she did not understand the procedures."
Normah told the NST that she was illiterate and did not attend school.
Fared added the council would assist with the baby girl's birth certificate registration and help her siblings.
"The cost of the infant's surgery and the PPR unit rental will be borne by the council, and the grandmother will also receive monthly financial contribution."
