Parliament hears 18 baby abandonment cases reported across Malaysia in first three months of 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 — Malaysia recorded 18 baby abandonment cases nationwide between January and March this year, compared with 72 cases reported throughout 2025, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Lim Hui Ying told Parliament today.

According to Astro Awani, Lim said Selangor accounted for 10 of the 18 reported cases, followed by Sabah and Penang with two each. Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Sarawak each recorded one case.

She added that all babies involved in cases handled by the Social Welfare Department (JKM) were safe.

“In addressing the issue of baby abandonment, the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, through its agencies namely the Social Welfare Department (JKM) and the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), implements various approaches covering prevention, protection and intervention,” Lim said during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat.

She was responding to Kepala Batas MP Mastura Muhammad, who sought statistics on miscarriages and baby abandonment by state, as well as the government’s measures to address the issue.

Lim said every baby who is found or rescued is immediately placed under protection under the Child Act 2001.

She said abandoned babies may be classified as children in need of care and protection, allowing authorities to take measures including temporary placement or seeking protection orders from the Court for Children.

She added that JKM also provides case management services, counselling, psychosocial support and family intervention programmes aimed at reducing the risk of neglect and baby abandonment.

Lim said the ministry would continue strengthening cooperation with the Health Ministry, the Royal Malaysia Police, the Education Ministry, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), other government agencies and civil society organisations to address the factors contributing to baby abandonment.

Responding to a supplementary question, Lim said the government did not have specific data on the number of private clinics allegedly carrying out illegal abortions nationwide.

She added that any information or complaints received from the public regarding such allegations would be investigated, with appropriate action taken under existing laws.