KUANTAN: When the clock struck 12.01am today, Johari Abdul Rashid and Hasnuriza Hasbullah ushered in Merdeka in the best way possible – by welcoming the arrival of their healthy baby girl.
Hasnuriza, 40, said that she did not expect to have a Merdeka baby as she was only due to give birth in September.
"When I first received signs of labour at 2pm yesterday, I initially thought it was (a false alarm). However at night (yesterday), I suddenly felt that the time had come for me to give birth.
"My husband brought me to the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) at 10.30pm (yesterday), before I safely gave birth to our baby at exactly 12.01am," she said after receiving a visit from state Health Department director Dr Sha'ari Ngadiman today.
Dr Sha'ari was at HTAA to meet the hospital’s 11 Merdeka babies and their proud parents.
Hasnuriza said she and her husband have yet to name their seventh child, but they expressed gratitude to God that she was born healthy – and on an auspicious date.
"I did not expect that she would be born on Merdeka day. It is good, as it would be very easy to remember her birthday," Joseph, 49, said with a grin.
Meanwhile, Dr Sha'ari said that as of noon today, 26 babies were born at seven government hospitals throughout Pahang after the clock struck midnight.
"HTAA recorded 11 births; the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital (HOSHAS) recorded seven births; the Kuala Lipis Hospital recorded four births; and Jengka Hospital, Pekan Hospital, Muadzam Hospital and Rompin Hospital each (registered) one birth," he added.