Report of nine-year-old giving birth under Malaysian probe

Kuala Lumpur, June 24 (ANI): Malaysian authorities are investigating a report by a vernacular newspaper that a 9 year-old-girl gave birth to a boy after her alleged affair with a 14-year-old neighbour.

Phee Boon Poh, State Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman said he was stunned to read the news in a Chinese newspaper.

"I have since alerted all departments concerned under my portfolio to investigate the matter. This is a very serious matter. Having sexual intercourse with a minor is considered statutory rape," Phee said.

He said that authorities only had an unelaborated report and his office had looked up to the police regarding the matter.

"Any medical practitioner who delivered the baby boy must alert the state Health Depart-ment as the mother is said to be a nine-year-old. Those hiding information or abetting the crime will be charged. I appeal to those with information to come forward," he said.

Penang deputy police chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah said that the police did not receive any report of the case.

State Education Department director Ibrahim Mohamad said that he had asked all the school principals and they claimed there was no such incident in their schools.

"But I have been informed by my officer that there is a schoolgirl who had taken numerous medical certificates before dropping out of school recently. I cannot ascertain whether the case is related. We will, how-ever, investigate the matter," Mohamad said.

The girl, whose parents are divorced, gave birth at a private hospital in May, the newspaper reported. The girl was mature for her age as she was big compared with other girls of her age, reports The Star Online.

Reportedly, the baby is being taken care of by the girl's grandmother.

The granny reported the incident to a non-governmental organisation that informed the local paper. (ANI)