KOTA KINABALU: A newborn baby boy, with his umbilical cord still attached, was found wrapped in a cloth and abandoned on the grass by the roadside in Kampung Keramat, Semporna, on Friday afternoon.

A civilian discovered the newborn at around 1pm and immediately alerted the Semporna district police headquarters.

The baby, weighing approximately 3.1kg, was rushed to Semporna Hospital for medical attention.

Doctors confirmed that he had no visible injuries and is currently under close observation at the hospital.

“The baby was found wrapped in cloth and is now receiving the necessary care at the hospital,” Semporna district police chief Supt Mohd Sabri Zainol said in a statement on Saturday (March 8).

Police are investigating the case under Section 317 of the Penal Code for child abandonment, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.

Supt Mohd Sabri urged anyone with information regarding the case to come forward.

“We urge anyone who may have seen anything suspicious or knows the identity of the baby’s parents to assist us in the investigation,” he added.

Those with relevant details can contact the Semporna IPD hotline at 089-782020 or the investigating officer, Insp Mohammad Hafizudin Akram Ghafar bin Ismail, at 013-7557293.