Baby Dumping: Is There A Solution?
Adolescents often associated with social problems and this has become an increasingly serious. Almost we can see the media reporting issues involving the youngsters of adolescents such as drug abuse, LGBT, illegal racing, snatch theft crime, gangsters, road bullies and run away from home until reach the alarming levels.
In recent years, the country was shocked by the most uneasy shocking news of all parties which is baby dumping issues. Baby dumping issues usually involves infants ages less than 12 months left in the open or closed with the intention to get rid of baby regardless the security threats of the baby’s life (Nazani, Zaherawati, Zaliha & Kamaruadin, 2012). The worst situation of this issue also can be seen when a girl gives birth in a school bathroom at night then throws the baby into the garbage or in the toilet bowl, a baby swaddled in newspapers left squalling by a fly-infested dustbin, a baby left on the doorsteps of people’s home with notes or in a mosque.
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| Image from Goggle |
This is so embarrassing, sad and worst scenario that happened in our society nowadays. The youngsters are worries much in this case when statistic shows that from January to April 2010, reported that 111 unmarried young girls were pregnant (Source: JKM). This should not be taken lightly as that value might had increase this year and there might as well cases that were not reported, thus this the possibility of the real amount might be more higher than the reported cases.
Triggers for baby dumping behavior are out of wedlock pregnancy. In particular, of this happens to adolescent especially those still in school then increasingly encouraging them to baby dumping behavior due to several factors such as fear and panic. In relation, unwed pregnancy and baby dumping is on the rise in Malaysia as adolescents engaging in early sexual activity places them at a high risk. In the developing countries are involved in sex before they are 15 years of age (Dixon-Mueller, 2009).
Baby dumping is not the solution to a life problem and it could be charged under Section 317 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum jail term of seven years of fine or both according to the Malaysia law. For the past few years there are many newborn babies have been found, dead or live in the most unlikely places like rubbish dump. This is no more a tolerate as time pass by it increases and it reflects the sense of humanity seems to be very low among Malaysian citizen who consume towards these baby dumping activity.
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| Image from Goggle |
According to Utusan Malaysia, this inhuman activity had become wild as it seems to happen almost every month. Last year record very bad cases as almost every month will be open up with baby dumping issue. On January 16, 2013 a fetus was found in a glass bottle near the lay stall by a cleaner in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Then, by 21st January, newborn baby was dumped into garbage bin in Hospital Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Temerloh, Pahang. This continues till the last month of the year. Is this the development society that we want to? Where do these perpetrators put their mind? Is it in the right place or it’s upside down? This is not an individual problem because these are corrupting the society as well.
Therefore, solution is not to crack things to a worst solution but we are able to change it to a better one. If there is a will there is always a way! Yes. This is what we are looking for, a solution and not an excuse.
Abandonment is a crime even it is a result from unwanted pregnancy. Many teens who are pregnant out of wedlock had to dumped their babies because of desperation, shame and fear of consequences that they had to face on. However, no matter what the status of the child, this issue needs to be curbed.
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| Image from Goggle |
There are various factors and reasons of increasing cases of baby dumping. This can be categorizing into three main components which is social, spiritual and globalization in developing technology (Prof Madya Dr Mohammad Shatar, 2010). Social factors are the main point that leads to baby dumping. This includes unlimited socialization in life between men and women. Besides, constrained by the western culture sexual practice is part of the romance. These people believes the safest way by using condoms and pill can prevent pregnancy if have sex.
The religion education is an important approach to avoid the young adolescent especially from involving in any of crime action. However, this is usually being overlooked and overshadow by taking the western lifestyle more in youth’s nowadays. This caused the youngsters to misinterpret the good and bad deeds.
The globalization era as well as technology development somehow also lead s towards baby dumping cases in Malaysia. Many researches have proven that mobile phone had caused the teens to interact with anyone in anytime thus, this is the starting point towards immoral activities. The failure of parents supervision in internet usage by their kids also contributes towards these cases as the technology could lead a person to be more immoral without any limitations.
In order diminishes the cases of baby dumping today, we need to adopt good values in life so that the shortcomings crack in social institution will decrease.
The adults for instance, should be a good example to the youngsters because they are more likely to pursue with baby dumping issues. This is to control and avoid these young adolescent to commit with the immoral activities now and in future. In addition, cooperation of the authority, government and society plays an important role towards achieving the target of zero social problems in community. This might be seen as tuff but hard works usually pays off.
DONE BY :
Ayna Shaqiren Azizan
Nursabrina Mohd Rapi
Wan Nur Faliqha Wan Hazani
Mas Agus Amha Md Ariff
