PETALING JAYA: The Prime Minister’s Department has urged the police to ensure the return of S Deepa’s abducted son to her home.
Referring to a court decision sanctioning force in taking away the 6-year-old boy from his Muslim father, Minister in the PM’s Department Nancy Shukri told reporters today police should take whatever action would be necessary to reunite the child with his Hindu mother.
“From what I’ve read in the media, Deepa’s ex-husband, who had converted to the Muslim religion, took their son with him after the Seremban High Court had given custody to the mother,” she said.
“The police should take the son away from the father and return him to the mother as the courts have been fair in their verdict.”
On May 27, Izwan Viran Abdullah lost his appeal against the Seremban High Court’s April 27 decision to grant custody of his two children to Deepa following their divorce. The Court of Appeal said police could use force to recover the boy from Izwan.
Nancy would not give a specific comment on last Sunday’s disruption of a Hindu wedding by officials of the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais).
“On the federal government’s side, we cannot be involved and speak on behalf of Selangor state,” she said.
“However, the government is currently working towards resolving religious and child custody issues between parents.
“After two recent meetings of a joint committee, we have identified mediation as a mechanism to resolve legal issues that involve Muslim converts and their former partners who are non-Muslims.
“The details are still being worked out.”
She was referring to a committee set up last April. It is chaired by her and Jamil Khir Baharom, another minister in the PM’s Department. Nancy is the de facto Law Minister and Jamil Khir is in charge of religious affairs.
