Latest official data put the 2007 fertility rate, the number of births for each woman in her lifetime, at 1.29 births. The ideal population replacement rate is 2.1 births per woman.

With 4.8 million people including foreign workers, Singapore’s long-term population target is 6.5 million people, which national planners say is the optimal figure for the country to remain economically competitive.

More immigrants are being allowed in to make up for the baby shortfall.

Doctors say ease of access to legal abortions at public hospitals and private clinics, coupled with heavy medical subsidies, have made abortions a practical choice for Singaporeans who cannot afford to raise a child.

In some Asian countries, abortion is illegal or difficult to undergo, giving rise to underground abortion clinics. Not in Singapore.

‘In Singapore abortion is readily available and is regulated, so I think that is the good thing about it,’ said Dr Saifuddin.

In addition to financially pressed patients, Dr Saifuddin said a large number of abortion cases involve unmarried women, including teenagers.

‘It’s not in our culture to be single parents, that’s why abortion is a more viable alternative,’ he said.

Under the law, abortion patients must undergo compulsory counselling two days before the procedure, which cannot be conducted if the pregnancy is more advanced than 24 weeks, unless the woman’s life is in danger.

The health ministry spokesman said the regulations on abortion were meant to ‘ensure that all children born in Singapore are wanted children, who will be properly cared for’.

Ms Mazlinda, who said she is looking for a new job to make ends meet, already has two teenage daughters and a six-year-old son and has to stretch her husband’s meagre income as a supermarket cashier. ‘Of course we all love kids but it’s not possible for me to support a new baby,’ she said, adding: ‘Whenever I walk past a baby, I will feel very sad, very depressed.’ — AFP