CHILD abandonment cases are on the rise, says the Social Welfare Department (JKM).
The number of children ranging from one-day-old babies to 17-year-old teenagers who are abandoned, have no guardian or whose parents cannot be identified has gone up, the department reveals.
A total of 73 cases were recorded between January to March this year. There were 238 cases for all of last year, which is 27% more than the 188 recorded in 2022.
According to JKM, it will always try to find the next of kin of abandoned children based on available information.
The department will also identify the best placement for the child in a family-based care as underlined in the Child Act 2001.
“The search for the child’s next of kin is done through press releases, social media, checking with the National Registration Department, immigration entry and exit records, embassies and other methods.
“Various services are also provided to help birth mothers or the next of kin who are facing difficulties such as financial assistance, counselling services, as well as explaining the procedures for handing over the child in an orderly manner,” JKM tells Sunday Star.
The department adds that it will find a fit and proper person for the child although not all children can be placed under their care immediately due to certain factors such as the child’s health problems, documentation and others.
The majority or 159 (67%) of the cases of abandoned children or those without parents or guardians, had no information on the cause of abandonment as specified under section 17(1)(e) of the Children’s Act 2001,
Meanwhile, negligence of parents or guardians and other reasons accounted for 19 (8%) cases.
Other causes include the death of the child’s parents, the child being an illegitimate child or adopted child, the parent being a drug addict, family disputes or financial problems.
Almost one-third (28%) of the cases involve children who were abandoned by their biological mothers, while 4% involved the biological father.
“Other perpetrators (of child abandonment) include the father, both biological parents, adoptive parents, grandmothers, relatives and others,” JKM states.
However, for half of the cases, information on the perpetrator is unavailable.
According to JKM, once a complaint or referral on an abandoned child is received, an investigation would be conducted by a protection officer, assistant protection officer or police officer within the first 10 hours.
“The protection officer will identify the child’s temporary placement and take the child to court to obtain a temporary custody order under Section 19 of the Children Act 2001 within 24 hours of rescue or under Section 25 of the Child Act 2001 within 24 hours of the completion of examination and treatment in the hospital,” says the department.
If the child’s next of kin cannot be identified, JKM would place the child in the care of a fit and proper person.
The department’s headquarters foster child placement panel meeting or the state level child placement panel meeting will propose the placement of the child.
“The protection officer prepares a report to the children’s court based on the recommendations and results of a placement panel meeting,” it says.
The department says more abandoned children are being placed in the care of foster parents or a fit or proper person.
A total of 76 children are placed with foster parents or a fit or proper person in 2023, while there were 71 in 2022 and 54 in 2021.
To qualify as adoptive parents, applicants must be either a Malaysian citizen or non-citizen residing in Malaysia.
One of the applicants should be at least 25 years old and at least 18 years older than the child in question.
The applicants must also be legally married for at least five years or more (if relevant), have an income that can support the family, in good health and have a safe living condition.
Nevertheless, single applicants may also be considered, says JKM.
Abandoned children or those without parents or guardians would also be temporarily placed in a welfare institution as they await investigation and suitable prospective foster parents.
“Individuals or applicants who are interested in applying for foster children can come to the nearest Social Welfare Office for further information,” says the department.
