Body of newborn with umbilical cord intact found in rubbish dump

The body of a baby boy, believed to be a newborn, was found in a rubbish dump at the Pangsapuri Permata near Bandar Perda, here, this morning.

The baby's remains, wrapped in newspapers and batik cloth, was found by a retired civil servant, Mahmud Manaf, 80, who was looking for trash to recycle at approximately 11.30am.

He said he never thought that the black plastic bag he found would contain a lifeless body of a baby.

Based on the condition of the body with the umbilical cord still intact, the baby was believed to have been born early this morning.

"I came to look for bottles. While scourging through the pile, I noticed a strange bundle. I picked it up and noticed it was of batik cloth which was tied with a rope.

“I lifted it up, felt it and noticed there was a round object like a head and immediately put it back. I opened it up and saw a baby covered with batik and tied with a black strap, newsprint and black plastic," he said when met, here, today.

Shocked by the discovery, he immediately informed the traders nearby who took him to the Bukit Mertajam police station to lodge a report.

The body was then taken to the Bukit Mertajam Hospital for autopsy.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Seberang Perai Tengah Police Assistant Commissioner Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abdul Hamid confirmed the incident.

He said an investigation will be conducted to locate the suspect involved in the incident.