Kula: Zahid cannot be silent on IGP's remarks

1:00PM Jun 11, 2014 Ram Anand ( Malaysiakini 

Kula: Zahid cannot be silent on IGP's remarks

DAP’s Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran said today Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi cannot remain silent on the statement by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar on child custody cases.

Khalid said yesterday that police will place children who are subject to custody battles in childcare homes and this was heavily criticised by both sides of the political divide who said Khalid appeared to be “taking the law into his own hands”.

“I urge the home minister to haul up the IGP and advise him on his duties and functions before the world laughs on his position. Will the minister do so or can’t he do anything about this?” Kulasegaran (right) asked during a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.

Kulasegaran's law firm acts on behalf of M Indira Gandhi, the Hindu mother of three who has been fighting a prolonged custody battle with her ex-husband.

Her ex-husband K Pathmanathan @ Muhammad Ridhuan Abdullah is a convert to Islam.

Until today, Ridhuan is yet to return to her the couple's youngest daughter despite a 2010 court order, while the police have not acted on the matter.

Ex-husband claims stress

Ridhuan's lawyer Anas Faizal, informed Kulasegaran's office last Friday that Ridzuan could not adhere to the court order because it was "too short of a notice" and because he was "under a lot of stress."

"How can the order from court be too short a notice when custody order was granted four years ago?

"The child was being breast fed when she was snatched away by the ex-husband five years ago and the mother has not seen the child since then. Now who is under stress?" Kulasegaran asked.

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