Pahang welcomed 12 newborn babies on Monday as families across the state celebrated Malaysia’s 69th National Day, with the births recorded at several hospitals between midnight and 9am.
Pahang State Health Department director Dr Haji Saiful Azlan Sharif said the newborns comprised six boys and six girls, making it an even split between the two genders.
Of the 12 babies, five were delivered naturally, while the remaining seven were born through Caesarean section. Ten of the newborns were Malay, while one was Orang Asli and another was a non-Malaysian citizen.
Dr Saiful Azlan said all 12 babies and their mothers were reported to be in good health following the deliveries.
The first Merdeka baby in Pahang this year was a 3.68kg baby boy who arrived at Hospital Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah (HoSHAS) in Temerloh at precisely 12.12am.
The newborn is the first child of a couple whose mother works as a hostel supervisor at a religious secondary school, while the father is employed as a mechanic.
The arrival of the babies added a special touch to this year’s National Day celebrations, with their births coinciding with a day dedicated to commemorating Malaysia’s independence and national identity.
Meanwhile, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA) in Kuantan recorded the highest number of Merdeka baby deliveries in Pahang this year, with six births registered there.
HoSHAS and Hospital Kuala Lipis each recorded two births, while Hospital Pekan and Hospital Raub registered one newborn each.
With all 12 babies reported healthy alongside their mothers, the National Day celebrations in Pahang brought an especially memorable start to life for the state’s newest little Malaysians.
