SHAH ALAM, July 6 — Selangor still has the highest number of baby-dumping cases in the country, accounting for 10 of Malaysia’s 18 cases in the first quarter of the year, the Dewan Rakyat heard today.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Lim Hui Ying said all babies rescued, managed by the Social Welfare Department (JKM), are safe.
“In 2025, JKM recorded 72 cases of baby dumping … From January to March 2026, 18 cases were recorded.
“Of the total (18 cases), 10 were in Selangor, two each in Sabah and Perlis, while one case each was recorded in Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Sarawak,” she said in response to a question from Siti Mastura Muhammad (PN-Kepala Batas) about miscarriage and baby dumping statistics by state, and the government’s moves to address these issues.
On March 25, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said police had opened investigation papers into 509 baby-dumping cases reported between 2018 and February this year.
She said the three states with the highest cumulative number of cases are Selangor, with 111 cases, Johor (64), and Sabah (56).
Nancy added that JKM rescued 101 children, classified as having been abandoned by their guardians, between 2022 and 2023.
Meanwhile, Lim said that among the government’s preventive measures to address baby dumping are advocacy and public education programmes on parental responsibility, family institutions, child protection, and the legal and social consequences of baby abandonment.
“The National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) KafeTEEN programme has also benefited more than one million teenagers since 2006 by raising awareness on reproductive health, risky sexual behaviour, and abstinence to prevent out-of-wedlock pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections,” she added.
She also said every abandoned baby rescued by JKM is granted protection under the Child Act 2001, with officers conducting investigations before arranging temporary placements with suitable caregivers or under a protective court order.
She said her ministry will continue collaborating with the Health Ministry, Education Ministry, police, the Islamic Development Department (JAKIM), other government agencies, and non-governmental organisations to tackle underlying causes of baby abandonment.
Lim said the ministry has no data on private clinics allegedly offering illegal abortion services.
