TUMPAT: Over 130 children of former Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB) members have been left unclaimed by their parents due to fears of encountering Welfare Department officials and financial difficulties, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
The Women, Family and Community Development Minister suggested that some parents might be apprehensive of being arrested if they came forward to discuss reclaiming their children, Malay language daily Sinar Harian reported.
"They are scared as they think it will involve the police, but in reality, those who were detained have been charged with other offences. They have nothing to fear," she told Sinar Harian.
Nancy was speaking to the media following her visit to the temporary relocation centre (PPS) at SK Sri Tumpat here on Wednesday (Dec 4).
She also pointed out that some parents are financially unable to pay the lawyers' fees to reclaim their children under the department's care.
"We have attempted to reach out to them, but they don't respond to our calls," she said.
Despite these difficulties, Nancy emphasised that the department is obligated to return the affected children within a certain timeframe ordered by the court.
"We need to navigate the court process to apply for and protect the affected children, and there must be a special procedure to hand them back to their parents," she explained.
Furthermore, Nancy told Sinar Harian that they also needed to secure a court order to appoint a Suitable and Fit Person to care for the affected children.
According to previous reports, 420 out of the 560 children rescued through Ops Global have been returned to their families, including four to Suitable and Fit Persons.
Since Ops Global's first phase commenced in early September, 415 individuals, including GISB's senior management, have been detained, and 625 victims aged between two months to 28 years old have been rescued.
