Baby abandoned at villager’s doorstep, with poignant note
Monday, 1 Jul 20191:45 PM MYT
by stephanie lee
KOTA KINABALU: A mother, apparently desperate to see her newborn son have a better life, left him at a villager’s doorstep in Kota Belud some 70km from here early Sunday (June 30).
The mother left a note asking for a woman of the house, a “Sumarti”, to care for her child whom she had named Yusof (pic, above).
The mother’s note said that the baby was born a day earlier and he had not drunk a drop of milk since his birth, as she was unable to lactate.
The mother also wrote that she was unable to bring the child for vaccination, buy milk formula, diapers or anything for her baby, and that she was not capable of raising the child.
The woman did not leave her name on the letter, but she seems to know the family as she wrote that she was sure “Sumarti” would be able to provide for the child and give him the love that he deserves.
The last part of her letter read, “I want someone to love Yusof. I, as a mother, have failed to care for Yusof. Yusof has been very thirsty and hungry since early morning”.
Kota Belud police chief Supt Mohd Zaidi Abdullah said in the 5.30am incident, the woman Sumarti was woken up by her mother who had heard a baby crying outside their house.
“Sumarti read the note and checked for injuries on the baby,” he said when contacted Monday (July 1).
Sumarti brought the baby to the police station and lodged a report at about 8.57am.
Supt Mohd Zaidi said Sumarti does not know of anyone in the village who had just given birth, and said she is unsure who left the child at her doorstep.
He said policemen took the baby for a medical examination and welfare officials were alerted.
He said the baby was found to be healthy and has been handed over to welfare officials for further action.
It is unclear at this moment whether Sumarti will adopt the baby.
The matter was posted on Facebook page Irranun Peace, which saw hundreds of users expressing their best wishes for the child and praising the mother who did not dump her baby and leave him to die.
There were also quite a number of people who asked if they could adopt the child.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/07/01/baby-abandoned-at-villager-doorstep-with-poignant-note/#y1IDBlx5hOfkK6r6.99
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