KUALA LUMPUR: Juveniles facing legal conflicts need to be subject to existing laws and legislation such as the Child Act 2001 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), says the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development

       Referring to the the detention of a 15-year-old girl who allegedly stabbed her newborn baby on Feb 8, the Ministry said in a statement that it took immediate action by providing appropriate intervention using a psychosocial approach for the welfare of the teen.

       "Throughout the minor’s time in police custody in the lockup or hospital, the District Social Welfare Office has made visits and channelled appropriate assistance including psychological services," it said.

       "The mother of the teen has also been given counselling and early intervention to ensure the emotional stability of the family facing this challenging situation," added the Ministry.

       In the incident on Tuesday morning, a newborn boy was found dead with injuries to the chest, believed to have been stabbed with a sharp object, at a house in Felcra Seri Bandi, Chukai in Kemaman.

       Kemaman police chief Supt Hanyan Ramlan reportedly said the baby was delivered by a 15-year-old teenager at her home, believed to be with the help of a friend, who then rushed to inform the birth of the baby to a nearby clinic.

       On this, the Ministry said the holistic approach through sexual and reproductive health education, awareness and counselling as well as advisory services for women who were undergoing unwanted pregnancies needs to be enhanced to prevent such occurrences.

       It added that various initiatives have been implemented with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) by providing baby hatches to prevent cases of infant abandonment and to ensure abandoned babies get family care and love through fostering applications.

       The Ministry then said that it also provides immediate protection services through the Social Welfare Department's four Taman Seri Puteri (TSP) care centres for children under 18 and three Sinar Kasih care centres which provide immediate care and protection to unwed pregnant women and their babies

       It added that it also calls on Malaysians to continue to instill a sense of love for family and appreciate children as a gift from God.

       "People are also urged to report directly to Talian Kasih at 15999 and Talian WhatsApp at 019-2615999 which operate 24 hours. The public can also lodge a report at 108 District Social Welfare Offices nationwide or any nearby police station," said the Ministry. - Bernama