KANGAR: The Welfare Department has been meticulously processing 68 applications for court orders to return children rescued from welfare homes linked to Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB) to their parents, guardians, or other qualified individuals, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
The Women, Family, and Community Development Minister said the Welfare Department must perform its duties diligently, conducting thorough investigations in line with legal requirements before returning the children to their rightful guardians.
"There have been instances where both parents contested custody, claiming the child as theirs, necessitating interviews by our officers. We have registered all claimants' names," she explained.
"We conduct a thorough investigation before submitting our findings to the court. If protection of the child is necessary, we apply to the court. Likewise, if we wish to return the child to the family, we must also seek a court order, in accordance with the law," she added.
Nancy made these remarks to reporters after launching the 2024 Perlis-level Kasih Kanak-Kanak, a child protection advocacy programme, attended by Perlis Mentri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli.
Nancy addressed a media report regarding a couple's claims about their young daughter, who was at a welfare home in Rasah, Negri Sembilan.
The couple asserted that their daughter had been detained during Ops Global on Sept 11, despite having no connection to GISB.
The couple appealed to the Welfare Department for the return of their one-year-old baby girl.
She emphasised that complete documentation, proving the children’s familial relationship, was essential before any child could be returned to any party.
The department would not arbitrarily hand over a child to any claimant without authentic evidence and a court order to avoid potential issues.
"We cannot verify the authenticity of the claims. The children were not detained by us; they were taken by the police and the Welfare Department due to not being with their parents.
"We do not know who their parents are. Imagine if we handed over the child to anyone who demands it - that would be wrong,” she asserted.
She noted that so far, a total of 54 children rescued under Ops Global have been returned to their qualified guardians, leaving 506 children still sheltered under Section 25(2)(a) of the Child Act 2001. – Bernama
