KUCHING: The state government is pressing on with efforts to set up baby hatch facilities in Sarawak in its mission to protect lives.
The initiative is a humanitarian effort to save lives, not to promote out-of-wedlock pregnancies or baby abandonment, said Women, Children and Community Well-being Development Minister, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
In this context, she urged more non-governmental organisations (NGOs), private hospitals and corporate bodies to join the effort by setting up baby hatches, offering counselling and raising awareness at the grassroots level.
“We remain committed to protecting the lives of babies, offering recovery pathways for pregnant teens and building a more compassionate society,” she said.
Fatimah was addressing recent public concerns following the discovery of a baby boy left in the baby hatch at Borneo Medical Centre (BMC) here on June 15.
“The baby hatch is not to encourage out-of-wedlock pregnancies,” she insisted at a press conference held at Wisma Wanita on Tuesday.
“It exists to prevent unsafe baby abandonment and to save the lives of both the infant and the mother,” she said.
Fatimah emphasised that the baby hatch provides a confidential, non-disciplinary and safe option for desperate mothers, especially those facing societal stigma due to out-of-wedlock pregnancies, to surrender their newborns.
“When a baby is placed in a hatch, an alarm is triggered, and trained staff immediately retrieve the baby to ensure their safety. The identity of the mother will not and is never revealed,” she explained.
In response to criticism over why the Social Welfare Department (JKM) issued a notice urging the mother of the baby boy to come forward, Fatimah said this is part of standard procedures.
“This one-month window is not about punishment but to give the mother a chance to change her mind.
“We’ve had cases where a mother reclaimed her baby before the child was adopted. We want to give the mother that opportunity,” she said.
However, if no claim is made within one month, JKM will proceed with the baby’s birth registration and assume guardianship.
A birth certificate is issued under the National Registration Department (JPN), although parental details will be marked as “No Information” and nationality listed as “Undetermined”.
“If the biological mother comes forward, the adoption process will be easier, and the child can even obtain citizenship and ‘K’ (Sarawakian) status more quickly,” Fatimah said.
Towards this end, she said the Sarawak Government was striving to simplify citizenship processes for abandoned babies adopted by Sarawakian families.
“The State Cabinet has approved that if the adoptive parents are Sarawakians, the child may be granted ‘K’ status even if the biological parents are unknown. This ensures they can grow up with legal rights and a secure identity,” she added.
Having clarified the matter, Fatimah however reiterated that the baby hatch should be viewed as a last resort and not a long-term solution.
Through the JKM, the state also provides shelters, such as Taman Seri Puteri, which offer support for pregnant teenagers, including prenatal care, education, vocational training, counselling, and spiritual guidance.
“Our goal is not just to save babies, but also to give mothers a second chance,” she said.