BUTTERWORTH: A 50-day-old baby sustained serious injuries when it was bitten repeatedly by a monkey at a house in Kampung Manggis, Sungai Puyu here, on Saturday.
Seberang Prai Utara district police chief Assistant Commissioner Noorzainy Mohd Noor said in the 2.15pm incident, the baby boy had just woken up and was on the mattress in the living room, while the mother was in the kitchen preparing milk.
"There were five people living in the kampung house, including the victim, his parents, grandmother and an uncle. However, at the time of the incident, his father was at a nearby sundry shop, while his grandmother was in the kitchen. The uncle was out.
"All the doors and windows were shut.
"The victim's mother, who was shocked to hear her son wailing, ran to the living room and found her son on the cement floor, about 1 metre from the mattress, all covered in blood. A male monkey was seen next to him before it fled the house," he said.
Noorzainy said the victim's mother immediately contacted her husband and informed him about the incident.
Initial checks revealed that there were bite marks on the child's head, stomach and cheek. He was sent to the Seberang Jaya Hospital for treatment.
Noorzainy said the baby was transferred to the Penang Hospital the same night and doctors performed a minor operation on his stomach yesterday morning.
Doctors also stitched up the bite marks.
"Doctors said the operation was just to re-attach skin which was torn as a result of the bites.
"However, the victim still needs to be hospitalised for about two weeks for further monitoring," he added.
He said preliminary checks found that the black monkey which bit the boy was a male, with a large build and long hair.
The monkey is often seen alone in the victim's neighbourhood.
He added that this was the first time the animal had attacked a human, causing serious injury.
In previous instances, the animal had only made sounds to show its ferocity at children and senior citizens outside their houses.
"The monkey also often ransacked pots and pans inside kitchens, believed to be looking for food.
"Until now, the villagers had only chased the monkey away by shouting at him.
"Following the latest incident, police had alerted Perhilitan to capture the animal," he added.
UPDATE:
It is learnt that the monkey was shot dead by police and Perhilitan officers at 11.30am today.