2010/02/28
KUALA LUMPUR: The first baby hatch in the country will be set up by May, giving those who can't take care of their infants a safe place to drop them off.
OrphanCARE president Datuk Adnan Mohd Tahir said everyone, including Women, Family and Community Development Ministry officials, were very concerned over the increasing number of abandoned babies in the country.
"The ministry and the Welfare Department want to put an end to baby dumping and they have agreed to us setting up the hatch.
"We met their officials on Monday and discussed many issues, including adoption and the baby hatch. Everyone agreed that cases of abandoned babies should not be allowed to spiral out of control."
The baby hatch will be set up at the non-governmental organisation's premises in Petaling Jaya. More will be established nationwide later.
Germany and Japan have adopted the system to support single mothers who cannot raise children on their own.
OrphanCARE, set up two years ago, works with the government to expedite the adoption process. It helps match and place abandoned and orphaned babies with suitable parents.
Adnan said mothers intending to drop their babies at the hatch should provide the child's birth certificate and consent for the baby to be given up for adoption.
The birth certificate is necessary to ensure the child will not be stateless.
"At our most recent meeting, Welfare Department officials said they would give us their full cooperation in getting the necessary documentation for babies left without their birth certificates at our premises," said Adnan.
"Let us not sit on the moral high ground and pass judgment on these mothers.
"We should be there to help them deal with the difficult situation and find the best solution for both mother and child."
He also said the recent cases where babies were found dead shows the seriousness of the baby dumping issue.
"We don't want more babies dying. The government should realise that sex education is important and it must be taught in secondary school."
He said the government should not sweep the problem under the carpet in the hope it would go away on its own.
"To think that Malaysian youngsters are not sexually active is being ignorant."
'Experts should hold talks in schools'
2010/02/28
KUALA LUMPUR: Sex therapists and psychologists should be employed to give talks in schools.
This should be the initial step if sex education is implemented in schools, said Parents Action Group for Education (Page) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim.
She said there was no running away from sex education in schools, adding it was necessary not just for teachers to be involved, but parents, too.
"The idea of sex education is nothing new and the government has been talking about it for a number of years now.
"I am just wondering about the money though. When the economic situation was better, it was not done."
Azimah advised parents to have an "open channel" not only with their own children, but also with other parents.
"They should keep tabs and notes of their kids and their peer groups. Parents have the notion that they can trust their kids more when they go to secondary school but this is not true."
Instead, they should be even more vigilant as teenagers become more daring and constantly test heir limits with their parents, said Azimah.
"Even the teenagers themselves can help us by looking out for their peers.
"If they cannot solve the problems, they can seek help from responsible adults such as trusted relatives, teachers or school counsellors," she said.
KUALA LUMPUR: Institusi kekeluargaan yang semakin lemah dan ketiadaan aspek keseimbangan dalam keluarga menjadi antara punca kes buang bayi semakin berleluasa.
Keadaan ini menyebabkan masyarakat tidak mampu menangani tekanan dengan betul dan memilih jalan mudah membuang bayi yang tidak berdosa.
Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat (KPWKM), Senator Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, berkata kelemahan ini wujud akibat kesibukan masyarakat yang terlalu mengejar kejayaan dan kebendaan hingga lupa nilai positif dalam keluarga.
"Ini mendorong ahli keluarga termasuk remaja tidak lagi menjadikan keluarga termasuk sanak-saudara sebagai tempat mengadu.
"Akibat struktur keluarga yang berkecai, elemen keluarga sebagai tempat mengadu turut hancur" katanya.
Shahrizat berkata, tempat perlindungan dan tempat remaja bermasalah mengadu sebenarnya adalah di kalangan ahli keluarga dan sanak-saudara sendiri tetapi kini sudah tidak lagi begitu.
Beliau ditemui selepas pertemuan dengan kedutaan asing anjuran Institut Pengupayaan Wanita bagi Anggota Pergerakan Negara Berkecuali (NTEW), semalam.
Turut hadir, Pengarah NTEW, Datuk Rafiah Salim dan 60 duta dan pesuruhjaya tinggi asing.
Shahrizat berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas kes buang bayi yang semakin berleluasa termasuk terbaru kelmarin membabitkan penemuan mayat seorang bayi perempuan di perkarangan sebuah masjid di Melaka.
"Mereka yang bermasalah dan tiada arah tuju seharusnya berjumpa dengan wakil Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM) atau pemimpin tempatan untuk meluahkan masalah mereka.
"Kalau rasa tak boleh jaga (bayi), kita ada JKM di seluruh negara dan pemimpin tempatan termasuk Wanita Umno. Jumpa mereka dan jangan jadikan kes ini sebagai satu budaya rakyat Malaysia," katanya.
Selain itu, beliau turut menjelaskan kaunselor, NGO, rukun tetangga (KRT) malah ramai pihak sedia membantu menangani kes seperti ini.
Shahrizat berkata, NTEW bakal menjadi nadi penggerak KPWKM untuk menyuarakan serta meningkatkan imej wanita Malaysia di peringkat global.
Beliau berpendapat, kejayaan bidang pengupayaan wanita Malaysia perlu diceritakan berikutan tidak ramai yang mengetahui negara ini sebagai negara majmuk dan mengecapi pelbagai kejayaan.
"Melalui program dijalankan antara negara NAM dan bukan NAM, kita akan berkongsi amalan terbaik antara negara termasuk polisi perundangan" katanya.
Pada masa sama, beliau turut merasmikan jurnal antarabangsa edisi pertama terbitan NTEW, mengandungi artikel berkaitan kepelbagaian budaya dan isu negara NAM.
Polis masih cari ibu bapa bayi
MELAKA: Polis masih meneruskan usaha mencari ibu bapa bayi perempuan yang dijumpai mati dalam keadaan dihurung semut, di luar pagar pintu masuk Masjid Permatang Duyong, Taman Seri Duyong, dekat sini, awal pagi kelmarin.
Ketua Polis Daerah Melaka Tengah, Asisten Komisioner Salehhudin Abd Rahman, berkata sehingga petang semalam, pihaknya belum menerima sebarang maklumat terbaru mengenai pihak disyaki bertanggungjawab melakukan perbuatan itu.
Mayat bayi malang itu ditemui oleh penduduk yang baru selesai solat Subuh kira-kira jam 6.30 pagi kelmarin, dibungkus dengan sehelai kemeja-T putih, cukup sifat dan tali pusat masih melekat di perutnya. Ia dipercayai dilahirkan kurang 24 jam sebelum ia diletakkan di situ.
Kes itu disiasat mengikut Seksyen 318 Kanun Keseksaan atas dakwaan menyembunyikan kelahiran selain membuang mayat bayi itu.
Mengenai kecederaan pada kepala mayat bayi itu, Salehhuddin mengesahkan bedah siasat mendapati ia berpunca kesan terjatuh.
Rosmah minta bendung kes buang bayi
KUALA LUMPUR: Isteri Perdana Menteri, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor meminta golongan belia terutama wanita di negara ini supaya tidak bersikap terburu-buru dalam melakukan sebarang tindakan termasuk membuang bayi yang dikandung tanpa memikirkan akibat yang akan berlaku.
Beliau kesal dan sedih dengan peningkatan kes pembuangan bayi sejak kebelakangan ini yang disifatkannya agak kejam tanpa memikirkan bayi berkenaan juga perlukan kasih sayang dan keinginan untuk hidup seperti bayi lain di dunia ini.
"Saya sedih apabila terjadinya perkara sebegini. Dulu, kejadian begini tidak ketara tetapi saya lihat sejak kebelakangan ini ramai bayi dibuang atau dibunuh, mungkin disebabkan ibu yang melahirkan bayi terbabit tidak ingin membelanya.
"Pada saya perbuatan ini satu yang kejam. Oleh itu, saya minta belia wanita sebelum kita buat sesuatu, kita mesti fikir apakah akibat dan kesannya. Jangan kita terburu-buru. Mereka (bayi) ini juga seorang insan dan pastinya inginkan kasih sayang. Jadi, saya berharap kejadian ini dapat dibendung secepat mungkin," katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang media selepas menerima kunjungan daripada pemain piano cilik yang berbakat besar, Tengku Ahmad Irfan Tengku Ahmad Shahrizal, 11 yang mengadakan persembahan di Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) atau Orkestra Filharmonik Malaysia, baru-baru ini.
Pada majlis itu, Rosmah yang juga Penaung Permata Negara berkata, Malaysia tidak ketandusan bakat muda dalam bidang muzik dan terbukti dengan kemunculan pelajar tahun lima Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur itu yang mempunyai bakat luar biasa bermain piano.
"Saya mendengar bakat Tengku Ahmad Irfan dan menjemput beliau datang ke sini berjumpa saya hari ini dan saya inginkan adik ini diserapkan untuk menyertai Istana Budaya atau Permata Seni khususnya dalam bidang muzik kerana kita mahu mengadakan satu orkestra untuk kanak-kanak berusia antara 9 hingga 13 tahun.
"Saya juga difahamkan Tengku Ahmad Irfan mempunyai keupayaan luar biasa dalam bidang akademik apabila beliau dianugerahkan sijil kecemerlangan piano solo gred 5 sebelum mendapat gred 8, " katanya.
Beliau berkata, Malaysia tidak kekurangan bakat dalam bidang muzik dan contoh terbaik adalah Tengku Ahmad Irfan dan berharap anak sulung daripada tiga beradik itu akan terus mengembangkan bakat yang dimilikinya ke peringkat antarabangsa.
"Saya mempelawa beliau bersama-sama bermain piano untuk orkestra kanak-kanak yang merangkumi muzik, koir dan tarian kelolaan Istana Budaya yang dijangka diadakan selewat-lewatnya, November ini, " katanya.
Dahsyatnya nafsu haiwan bertubuh manusia
Oleh - Sri Diah
Dengan posting bertajuk `Dahsyatnya nafsu’ dan sekeping gambar bayi malang yang telah menjadi mayat dengan kesan gigitan semut di seluruh tubuhnya – saya mene-rima banyak komen daripada rakan-rakan facebook.
Hanya dua patah perkataan namun impaknya besar. Itu adalah kesan facebook. Belum lagi dikesan pada twitter, blogspot, blogdrive dan wordpress serta rangkaian komunikasi lain.
Akhbar kelmarin melaporkan penemuan bayi masih bertali pusat itu. Tidak diketahui sama ada dia masih bernyawa ketika ditinggalkan di Masjid Jamek Permatang Duyong, Melaka itu.
Badannya dihurungi semut dengan berbalut sehelai kain putih. Memang sah bayi itu tidak diingini.Kelahirannya dianggap menyusahkan, namun perlukah dia diperlakukan begitu?
Realitinya, ibu dan bapanya melakukan dosa berzina. Kini mereka menghadapi pula dosa membunuh� Manusiakah ibu dan bapanya? Ya betul mereka bertubuh manusia namun akal dan tindakan lebih kepada haiwan, malah haiwan pun masih sayangkan anaknya.
- Dapatkan artikel penuh di Sinar Harian hari ini.
Rosmah's advice to teenagers
2010/02/12
KUALA LUMPUR: "Think before you leap, kids."
The advice came from the prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who also reminded teenagers to carefully consider the consequences of all their actions.
"I am asking our teenage girls to think of the repercussions before doing anything."
She was commenting on the spate of cases of abandoned babies, with the latest one reported at a mosque in Kampung Permatang Duyong on Wednesday.
"It's a cruel act. I'm disappointed that such a thing happens.
"Remember that these babies are innocent beings who crave love and attention just like any of us."
She hoped the authorities could find a solution soon to put an end to such ruthless acts.
Earlier, Rosmah met gifted pianist Tengku Ahmad Irfan Tengku Ahmad Shahrizal.
The 11-year-old is the latest addition to an unique all-child orchestra of the Istana Budaya's Permata Seni programme.
"I've heard a lot about Irfan's exceptional musical talent," she said.
"There is no lack of talent here in Malaysia. I hope we can nurture young talents such as Irfan."
The all-child orchestra is said to be the first in the country.
It is expected to organise its first concert in November.
Istana Budaya director-general Mohamed Juhari Shaarani said auditions were currently being held nationwide in search of talented young musicians.
To date, there are 31 members in the orchestra.
Juhari also said it would need a minimum of 60 members to make up a complete orchestra.
The orchestra will play classical and local repertoires at concerts.
Nik Aziz says it's due to absence of values
2010/02/16
KOTA BARU: Too much freedom is one of the reasons why cases of abandoned babies are on the rise, Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said yesterday.
"It's a cruel act. In Islam, women are not allowed to show their aurat (parts of the body that cannot be exposed).
"Cases of babies being abandoned are the result of too much freedom among the youth," he said at a Chinese New Year open house by SBJ Binajaya Development here on Saturday.
Nik Aziz said he believed such cases happened because people neglected to practice the religious obligations in their daily lives.
The Pas spiritual leader was commenting on the discovery of a body of a newborn baby in a rubbish bin which caught fire at Jalan Zainal Abidin in Kuala Krai on Saturday.
The burnt baby, with its umbilical cord still attached, was discovered by three Kuala Krai District Council staff about 10am.
Meanwhile, Kelantan Criminal Investigation Department chief Assistant Commissioner Mazlan Lazim said a special team was set up to investigate the case.
"We are trying to trace the baby's mother. We hope to come up with something soon," he said.
Places for unwanted babies
2010/02/16
By B. Suresh Ram and Ili Liyana Mokhtar
KUALA LUMPUR: Unwanted babies can be sent to any of the 104 district welfare offices nationwide, Woman, Family and Community Development Mi-nister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said yesterday.Shahrizat said the babies could also be handed over to the 60 orphanages and safe houses managed by the Welfare Department.
"Government agencies and non-governmental organisations should also organise awareness and religious programmes targeted at youths and schoolchildren to inculcate moral values," she said in a statement.
On Sunday, Shahrizat said welfare officers, who are known as "protectors", would be on standby around the clock to check on cases of abandoned babies following a sharp increase in the number of such cases of late.
Under the Child Act 2001, welfare officers designated as "protectors" are tasked with identifying cases of unwanted pregnancies in their respective districts and to provide assistance to the mothers.
Police statistics last year revealed that about 100 babies were abandoned each year with many more cases going unreported.
In the Klang Valley alone, an abandoned baby was found every 10 days.
In 2007, the Dewan Negara was told that 304 babies were abandoned between 2004 and 2006.
There are currently some 500,000 children in orphanages nationwide.
Shahrizat said the trend, if allowed to continue, would lead to bigger social problems.
Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is the prime minister's wife, had described the act as cruel.
In a recent interview, she cautioned teenagers to be mindful of clandestine activities which could lead to such problems.
She also reminded them to consider the consequences of such acts.
"Remember, babies are also human beings.
"They are innocent, and crave for love and attention, just like many of us."
'Allow sex education'
2010/02/17
By Minderjeet Kaur
KUALA LUMPUR: Sex education in schools is the key to curbing unwanted pregnancies in the country, said a former mufti and a non-governmental organisation.They also want the government to get rid of red tape which required single mothers to seek a court order to stay in government-run shelters or to register a child in school.
Former Perlis mufti Dr Asri Zainul Abidin said teenagers needed more than spiritual guidance.
"We can teach teenagers not to mix freely with the opposite sex. Sex before marriage is forbidden.
"But it might not stop them from doing it.
"We need to take proactive measures to stop single mothers from killing an innocent baby. It is a sin in Islam."
He said schools were the best place to create awareness on sex education.
"Teachers are doing it on a small scale now, but more needs to be done to teach the 'side effects' of mixing freely with the other gender."
The latest case of an abandoned baby occurred on Saturday, when the corpse of a newborn was found in a rubbish bin in Kuala Krai which had caught fire.
The burnt baby, with its umbilical cord still attached, was found by three Kuala Krai District Council staff.
Asri said he hoped there would be more halfway homes for single mothers to cope with their pregnancy and praised the government for allowing unwanted babies to be sent to district welfare offices nationwide, and for the 24-hour Talian Nur 15999 to report cases of unwanted babies.
"People should not look at the move as encouraging our teenagers to have unwanted babies. It is to curb the problem."
Asri also said he hoped the Education Ministry would accept registration of students without a father's name.
"If a mother cannot show proof of the baby's father, let it be. The child should not be punished for the sins of his parents."
Women's Aid Organisation executive director Ivy Josiah said boys needed to be taught to take responsibility for their actions.
"One way of getting to the root of the problem is sex education. We need to teach boys that they cannot plant their seed and leave the lady in fear to face the world alone."
She said there was a need to make sex education in schools compulsory to change the mindset of the young as the subject was not about how to have sex, but to teach values and morals for both men and women.
Josiah also praised the government for allowing unwanted babies to be sent to any of the 104 district offices nationwide.
However, she said she hoped privacy would be given a priority to encourage more women to come forward to seek help.
She recommended the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry allow these mothers to be referred to the nearest NGOs or halfway homes for assistance.
National Union of Teaching Profession secretary-general Loke Yim Pheng said the Education Ministry should review the need for sex education in schools.
KUALA LUMPUR: “Wanita jangan terlalu rapat atau sayang dengan teman lelaki mereka sehingga sanggup melakukan apa saja termasuk menyerahkan kesucian diri,” tegas Imam Besar Masjid Negara, Tan Sri Shaikh Ismail Muhammad (gambar).
Menurutnya, Islam memberi penghormatan kepada golongan wanita, tidak seperti satu masa dulu di mana wanita pernah dijadikan seperti barangan dan lebih teruk menjadi hamba seks. Katanya, jangan disebabkan cinta, wanita hilang maruah diri dan lupa dengan asas pengajaran Islam hingga sanggup melakukan maksiat. “Sayang perlu dipupuk selepas ikatan perkahwinan yang sah, bukan ketika bertunang apatah lagi masa bercinta. “Menurut ajaran Islam, kasih sayang dan rahmat hanya diperoleh dengan perkahwinan, sekiranya hubungan lelaki dan wanita tanpa ikatan sah seperti tinggal bersekedudukan pasti berlaku perkara tidak baik,” katanya.Menurutnya, kejadian seperti dibelasah, menjadi hamba seks kepada teman lelaki dan sebagainya ini berpunca kerana hubungan terbabit tidak diredai Allah SWT. “Apakah wanita Islam yang terlanjur melakukan maksiat lupa diri mereka itu berharga, bukan alat teman lelaki melepaskan geram atau nafsu saja.
“Hubungan berlandaskan nafsu ditemani ‘pihak ketika’ iaitu syaitan dan hasutan syaitan mendorong kepada perkara maksiat, jenayah, kes buang bayi, anak gadis lari dari rumah dan pelbagai lagi,” katanya.
Organisation to go ahead with baby hatch plan
2010/02/21
By Shanti Gunaratnam shanti@nst.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: Whether or not it gets the green light from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, an organisation is going ahead with its plans to set up baby hatches for people to drop off unwanted babies.
OrphanCARE plans to set up the first baby hatch at its premises in Petaling Jaya soon before expanding it nationwide, said president Datuk Adnan Mohd Tahir.
The hatches will provide a safe place for people to drop off babies they could not take care of themselves.
He said this was better than having the babies dumped in drains, garbage bins or dumpsites.
"Mothers who have babies out of wedlock are often in a fragile state. They don't know where to turn to or what to do with the babies. While waiting for the baby hatch to be set up, they can drop off their babies at our centre because we have a caretaker here.
"The babies can then be put up for adoption. No baby should be left to die because their mothers do not know where to turn to."
Adnan said the mothers should be treated with compassion and not as criminals.
Germany and Japan have adopted the system as a way to support single mothers who cannot raise children on their own.
OrphanCARE, set-up two years ago, works with the government to expedite adoption processes. It helps to match and place abandoned and orphaned babies with suitable parents.
"Next week, we will be meeting National Welfare Department officials to discuss several issues, including domestic and foreign adoptions and also the hatch. The department is aware that we are going ahead with plans to have the baby hatch at our centre."
He said mothers intending to drop their babies at the hatch should provide the child's birth certificate and consent for the baby to be given up for adoption.
The birth certificate is necessary to ensure the child will not be stateless.
Asked whether the baby hatch would encourage pre-marital sex, Adnan said there was an increasing number of babies born out of wedlock, many of whom are left in dumpsites, bushes, drains and public toilets.
"Look at the recent cases where the babies were found dead. We don't want more babies dying.
"The government should realise that more and more youngsters are sexually active. Sex education must be taught in secondary schools."
He said the government should not sweep the problem under the carpet with the hope that it would go away on its own.
Tenaganita Sdn Bhd anti-trafficking-in-persons coordinator Aegile Fernandez said the hatch was a good idea.
"It is a success in so many other countries. Malaysia should follow suit.
"In the 1960s and 1970s, the Catholic nuns used to have something similar in front of the convents where unwed mothers could leave their babies who were either given up for adoption or brought up by the nuns."
Fernandez said many of the unwed mothers were young and forced to abandon their babies because of the social stigma.
"Society does not take to unwed mothers kindly. Everyone tends to judge them harshly instead of providing them a good support system."
No comments:
Post a Comment