A Rukun Tetangga chairperson from Bercham managed to save a newborn baby boy who was wrapped in a plastic packet, from being eaten by a stray dog, in front of a house at Bercham Indah in Ipoh last night.

Tan Swee Kong, 45, who saw a dog trying to drag a plastic packet with the baby inside, managed to save the baby at 11pm.

“I saw a dog dragging a plastic bag with the baby inside. There were traces of dog bites on the plastic bag as the dog was trying tear off the plastic wrapper around the newborn baby,” he told reporters at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh today.

Tan later lodged a police report at the Bercham police station.

State chairperson for Health, Local Government, Environment, Public Transport and Non-Muslim Affairs Dr Mah Hang Soon yang, who visited the baby at the hospital, said action must be taken against such irresponsible individuals who abandoned their newborn baby.

“I am shocked and disappointed with such cruel human beings who are willing to allow a newborn baby to be treated in such manner. Luckily Tan had managed to save the baby. I hope the culprit will be punished,” he said.

He said to reduce the number of abandoned baby cases, the hospital had set up a ‘baby hatch’ so that individuals can leave their unwanted babies there.

“Leaving their babies at the ‘baby hatch’ can reduce the number of deaths due to individuals who decide to abandon their babies.

Meanwhile, Ipoh Deputy Police Chief Supt Mohad Isa Hussin said police were informed of the incident at 12 midnight.

“The baby’s condition is okay and we are trying to find out the identity of the baby’s parents,” he said.

- Bernama