Outrage Over Baby In Garbage Yard
By M K Anwar

Bandar Seri Begawan - The gruesome discovery of a dead newborn baby in Sg Akar Sunday has sparked outrage among members of the public.

The decomposing body of the baby was found amid piles of garbage at the dumpsite.

The Domestic Violence & Child Abuse Unit of the Royal Brunei Police Force is investigating the case. Police confirmed Sunday that the remains was that of a newborn baby boy.

According to a witness, the baby boy did not look abnormal and would have been a healthy infant if he were alive.

Reports of abandoned babies in the past had triggered anger among the public. And in cases where babies died as a result of being abandoned, the feeling of sadness and sometimes guilt hit the public harder.

"The person could have just left the baby to the authorities to care for or in front of someone's house rather than `throw' it away," said a member of the public.

Nurul Hayati, a teacher at a private school, said that many people would have come forward to adopt the baby. What compelling reasons drive a person to such an act of cruelty is unknown but observers said that these people may have been under extreme pressure, stress and unable to face the social stigma. However, abandoning babies in such situations cannot be justified, they said.

Initial investigations after the discovery of the infant's body Sunday have suggested thai the remains might have been at the dumpsite for more than 24 hours and the baby was most probably more than three days old.

Police have cordoned off the area where the body was found and the Crime Scene Unit was seen combing through the pile of garbage looking for evidence.

Under Section 26 of the Children Order 2000, abandoning babies or children carries a maximum imprisonment term of seven years and 10 strokes of the cane or a maximum of $20,000 fine or both. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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