Malaysia hospital accused of refusing to return baby’s body over US$557 unpaid bill

In a statement defending its actions, Razif Maternity Hospital alleged the dead child’s parents were unmarried – igniting further outrage

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The case centres around a baby born with a severe congenital condition who died shortly after delivery. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 11:20am, 16 Dec 2024Updated: 11:25am, 16 Dec 2024

Police in Malaysia are investigating a private hospital accused of withholding the body of a dead baby until the parents settled their bills in a case that has sparked outrage across the country.

The case centres around Muhammad Adham Mikail, who was born on November 24 with cyclopia syndrome – a severe congenital condition characterised by a single eye and other anatomical abnormalities. He died shortly after delivery at Razif Maternity Hospital in Klang, west of Kuala Lumpur.

Safwan Roshdy, the baby’s 22-year-old father, claimed the hospital informed him and his wife that they could not retrieve their child’s body for burial until they settled a 2,480-ringgit (US$557) bill.

The story quickly went viral after activist Wan Cai, who runs the Special Funeral Van Unit providing affordable funeral services to the underprivileged, brought it to light.

What followed was a torrent of counter-allegations between the hospital, Safwan, his lawyer, and the activist.

Ringgit banknotes. The child’s parents claimed that the hospital refused to release the body until a 2,480-ringgit bill was paid. Photo: Reuters

In a statement released late on Friday, the Selangor state police confirmed they had received a formal complaint from Safwan, and that inquiries were under way at the South Klang police headquarters to investigate possible criminal actions.