Seremban: Police have confirmed that an 11-month-old baby girl died yesterday after she was found face down in a pail of soapy water in a house backyard at Jalan Sri Permata Ladang.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Seremban police chief ACP Mohd Yatim Osman stated that the department received a report on the incident at 7.22 pm. The baby was under the care of her grandmother from 9 am while her parents were at work. Around 2.30 pm, the baby was asleep in a cradle as her grandmother was occupied with cooking and laundry. The grandmother later discovered the baby missing from the cradle.

A search was initiated, and the baby was found face down in a pail with a small amount of soapy water, her head submerged. She was subsequently taken to a nearby clinic and then referred to Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar, where a medical officer confirmed her death at 4.30 pm.

A post-mortem was conducted early this morning, with the exact cause of death pending laboratory test results. Following the incident, police detained a 54-year-old local woman to assist in investigations under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, concerning alleged abuse, neglect, abandonment, or exposure of a child likely to cause physical or emotional injury.

The police are appealing to the public for information regarding the incident. Individuals with relevant details are urged to contact the investigating officer, Insp Sinniah Rajoo, at 06-6033222 to aid the investigation.