BATU PAHAT — Authorities are investigating a suspected baby abandonment case after the body of a newborn boy was found in a women’s restroom at the Yong Peng highway rest area along the North–South Expressway.
The discovery was made at around 3pm when a visitor to the rest stop noticed a baby’s body inside a trash bin and alerted the police.
According to Batu Pahat district police chief Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani, preliminary findings confirmed that the baby was fully developed and still had the umbilical cord and placenta attached.
“This indicates that the baby was likely born shortly before being left at the location,” he said.
Medical officers from the Yong Peng Health Clinic assisted police at the scene to verify the condition of the infant, who was found wrapped in a piece of clothing.
The area was cordoned off to allow forensic examination, while officers began gathering evidence, including possible witness statements and CCTV footage from the rest area.
The infant’s remains were transported to Hospital Sultanah Nora Ismail for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
Police said the case falls under Section 316 of the Penal Code, which carries serious penalties if proven in court.
Investigators believe the expressway rest stop’s accessibility may have been exploited by the suspect, enabling a quick exit after the baby was abandoned.
Police have appealed to the public for information, stressing that cooperation could be crucial in identifying those responsible.
Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact the Johor police contingent hotline or the Batu Pahat district police headquarters.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the persistent issue of infant abandonment, prompting calls for stronger social support mechanisms and community vigilance to prevent such tragedies from occurring.