I want them to be true Malaysians, says mother

KUALA LUMPUR: Shalwati Nurshal has asked that her four children who are back in Malaysia be sent to a national school so that they can be taught Malaysian culture.

Shalwati, who is in jail together with her husband, Tourism Malaysia director in the country Azizul Raheem Awaluddin, made the request to Deputy Home Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin who met her in prison to get her permission to bring the children back to Malaysia.

Shalwati and Azizul Raheem, are being held in remand by Swedish authorities until Feb 10 on a charge of beating the hand of their youngest son for not praying.

“Shalwati asked that her children be placed at national schools. She does not want to send the children to international schools because of the different culture.

“We will discuss with the children on the school they want to go to,” he told reporters at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s residence at Jalan Langgak Duta here yesterday.

Hamzah was there accompanying the children Aishah,14; Ammar, 12; Adam, 11 and Arif, 7 to meet the Prime Minister and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

The children may also be traumataised by their experience in Sweden and Women, Family and Community Development will provide counselling to help them cope with any psychological problems.

“We were informed that they will be brought home to Shalwati’s relative’s house in Kelantan, and the counselling will be provided by our officers there,” said ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur.

Noorul Ainur said their aunt Shaleena Nurshal, 42, would take care of them.