SIBU: Procedural difficulties could have delayed the adoption of a baby boy found abandoned at the compound of Sibu Kutien Association’s Senior Citizens Home in December last year.
Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said many parents had wanted to adopt the baby.
“I saw the beautiful baby at the Sibu Hospital. Nurses told me he cries very little and is easy to babysit,” she said when contacted yesterday.
On the procedures, Fatimah said when an abandoned baby was found, police would have to trace the parents.
The Welfare Department would have to make a public announcement to find the parents if the police failed to find them, she added.
“These steps are to be taken to give an opportunity to the biological parents to claim back their baby.”
She said no one could say for certain the parents would not regret and want their baby back.
“If this doesn’t happen, then an announcement will be made for the baby to be adopted.”
Fatimah added such an announcement for this particular baby might be made on April 28, and it might take about a week for prospective adoptive parents to be interviewed.
Overall, she said, it was a somewhat complicated procedure.
“For example, we even have to visit the house of the prospective parents to ensure it is a livable home.”
Fatimah said she was all for the baby to be adopted because a family home to her was always better than an institution for children.
“Putting children in institution is the last resort,” she said, disclosing that there were many children in institution waiting to be adopted.
Apart from adoption, the department also encourages fostering.
Fatimah said: “In fostering, the foster parents would see their foster children from the institution at the weekend, or maybe bring them out for some outing just to show them (the children) that they have parents who love them.”
She noted of cases when fostering led to adoption.