KUALA TERENGGANU: The mother of the first Merdeka baby at Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital was glad she delivered her baby today to rein in the historic occasion.
Umi Atikah Mahari, 23, said she hoped that her baby boy will grow up to be a good person in the future.
“When the doctor informed us that the baby is a boy, I almost broke into tears and welcome my Merdeka baby with joy,” said Umi who is a housewife from Kuala Berang.
Umi's husband, Abdul Hafiz Mohamad, 31, said he was surprised that Umi was going to give birth early than her actual delivery date on Sept 18.
"Many of my friends suggested that Mohd Merdeka is the most suitable name to my boy, and of course it is a good and patriotic name to be chosen," he said when met at the hospital today.
To date, all the Merdeka babies in Terengganu would receive RM100 cash from the state government as an incentive.
Meanwhile, a total of 34 Merdeka babies, 20 of them boys were born throughout the state in hospitals as of 10am today.
Menteri Besar Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ) topped the list with 21 babies delivered.
He said the first baby, a boy, was delivered 26 minutes after midnight at the hospital on Merdeka day weighing at 2.3 kg.
Razif said Kemaman Hospital recorded second place with seven Merdeka babies.
He said the second baby was a girl also born at HSNZ, weighing about 2.5 kg and was delivered about three hours later.
In attendance were State Health Department director Dr Mohammed Omar, State Health, Women Development, families and Welfare committee chairman Rosli Daud and Ahmad Razif's wife Halina Zakaria.
Razif and wife spent about 30 minutes to visit the mothers and their babies. He also handed over hampers to all the Merdeka babies.
Earlier, Ahmad Razif attended the Merdeka celebration and the parade from the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah stadium to the Batu Burok beach.