PAS lends voice to Hindu mother in long and painful wait to see daughter again

A prominent PAS leader, along with several activists and influencers, has lent support to a Hindu mother whose child was taken away by her ex-husband 16 years ago, signalling a new front in her long struggle after authorities failed to enforce a Federal Court ruling for her to be reunited with her now teenage daughter.

Zaharuddin Muhammad, who heads a PAS-linked think tank on Islamic governance, also offered to mediate between the authorities and the families involved so that both mother and daughter can be reunited.

"This is no longer about faith or religion; this is an issue of humanity, family, and motherhood. Even after converting to Islam, a mother and child cannot be separated just because they are of different religions," said Zaharuddin, the Sungai Buloh PAS chief, at a press conference hosted by lawyer Latheefa Koya to highlight the plight of kindergarten teacher M Indira Gandhi.

Also present were independent Muslim preacher Hoslan Hussein, Kampung Baru land rights activist Rafidah Ibrahim, and popular political influencer Ratu Naga, or Syarul Ema.

The plea comes more than a month after Indira, the mother of Prasana Diksa, who was taken away by her convert Muslim father Riduan Abdullah when she was just 11 months old, pushed a baby stroller containing a teddy bear through the streets of Kuala Lumpur to highlight the failure of various authorities and enforcement agencies in the country to locate her daughter, after it emerged that her ex-husband was still in the country despite claims that he was missing.

Riduan converted to Islam in 2009 before unilaterally changing their three children's religion to Islam without Indira's consent, and later abducted Prasana, who has never been seen again by Indira.

This led to a protracted court battle for custody, which ended with Indira winning a landmark Federal Court ruling in 2018 that nullified the unilateral conversions of her three children.

Yet, more than seven years after the apex court decision, police have failed to enforce the court's directive to locate and return Prasana, reigniting a national debate on parental and religious rights as well as the failure of Malaysia's justice system.

In October, it was revealed that Riduan was still in the country after data from the Budi95 petrol subsidy programme showed he had been refuelling in Malaysia, despite police claims that he was in Thailand.

Following this, the Ipoh High Court ordered police to intensify their search for Riduan and locate Prasana.

Indira's lawyer, Rajesh Nagarajan, has also questioned the police's earlier claims that Riduan was no longer in Malaysia, as well as whether he was blacklisted from leaving the country due to his status as a wanted person.

The authorities' failure to locate Riduan led Indira to file a RM100 million suit against the police and government. The High Court dismissed the suit last year, and the Court of Appeal has yet to decide Indira's appeal to reinstate the suit.

'Stop the political stunt'

Zaharuddin, who is also the son-in-law of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, said he is prepared to meet and discuss with Riduan to find a solution.

He said the priority now is to reunite Prasana with her mother on humanitarian grounds, adding that as a Muslim preacher, he is also bound to ensure the rights of a mother.

He appealed to anyone with knowledge of Riduan's whereabouts to inform him of the offer to mediate.

"Please forward this video to him, and please contact me at 019-351-4078," said Zaharuddin.

"All Indira wants is to see her child as a mother, that is all. I think this needs to be worked on together by all of us, including all Muslims."

Meanwhile, Latheefa took to task some ruling politicians who show sympathy for Indira's plight in their personal capacity, describing their actions as a political stunt.

"We even have representatives of the current administration who attend demonstrations and gatherings held by Indira. But they come in their personal capacity, even though they represent the government. They come individually and offer sympathy, but what is the point? Do your work as entrusted," she said.