KUALA LUMPUR: Former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said the authorities should address baby dumping cases with reason instead of using punitive measures.
In a post on his Facebook account this morning (March 21), Zaid said it was time authorities realise that a practical approach to solving problems was needed.
"We only know how to punish. We always choose the one ( method) that does not work because we distrust reason and a practical approach to solving problems. We only know how to punish," he said.
"How to curb baby dumping?
"Another baby was dumped in Johor yesterday. What's the answer to baby dumping? The answer is the same as dealing with the KK Mart socks issue. Use reason and not emotion.
"If you use reason, you do not punish the mother and father for conceiving a baby out of wedlock," he said.
Zaid said the public must be educated and learn to accept that unwanted babies can be handed over to the Welfare Department; and that the use of contraceptives should be further promoted especially among the young.
"Tell the public that it's perfectly acceptable to leave unwanted babies with the Welfare Department. The department will accept them with open arms.
"Promote the use of contraceptives among the young."
Zaid o pointed out the inevitable harsh reality that baby dumping will continue because Malaysia neglects reason and neglects having more practical approaches the issue.
"Babies will be abandoned. Some will die. The police will have to spend resources to look for the parents. The preachers will continue preaching the sins of premarital sex. Schools will not teach sex education. But babies will continue to be made.
"Which option will we choose? We always choose the one that does not work because we distrust reason and a practical approach to solving problems. We only know how to punish."
In June last year, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said there were a total of 256 cases of abandoned babies recorded from 2020 to 2022 based on police statistics.
