PAS asserted that Valentine's Day and New Year's Day celebrations encourage free sex that has led to a spate of baby dumpings that have grabbed national headlines, a news report said today.

"Baby dumping is rampant, especially during the months of July to September," PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan was quoted as saying by The Star daily.

Nasrudin claimed there had been 15 cases of abandoned babies since July.

"It's an indication that the 'mating season' occurred during the New Year's Day celebrations," he said, adding that the PAS expected more cases through September.

pas muktamar 130610 nasruddin hassan 1 He put the blame on Western traditions, such as Valentine's Day, that "put youths in situations involving alcohol and indecent behaviour."

PAS is planning a meeting with non-profit organizations and all political parties Sunday to tackle the social problems involving baby dumping, especially by young, unwed mothers.

Local newspapers have recently reported a series of babies being found dead and alive at dumpsites, at the doorsteps of strangers' homes or in rivers.

One reported in The Star involved an unwed university student who had a miscarriage and threw away her 5-month-old foetus in a rubbish bin in a toilet.

Another baby boy with his umbilical cord still attached was found alive outside the home of a policeman.

According to police data, 65 babies have been found abandoned so far this year. Last year, 79 cases were reported.

The media uproar has led the government to propose the death sentence for baby dumping, sparking more debate on the issue.

- dpa