Khairy: Police have a duty to uphold the law

(The Star) – The police have a duty to uphold the law, said Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin in a reminder to IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

“As far as I am concerned as Umno Youth chief, enforcement agencies must uphold the law, especially when it is clear,” Khairy told a press conference at the Fiesta Samba Brazil programme.

It was reported that Khalid had adopted a middle ground stance and suggested that children involved in custody battles between Muslim and non-Muslim parents be placed in welfare homes.

“This way, the parents need not fight over the custody of their children and can visit them at the homes if they want to,” he was reported as saying.

Khalid was referring to the case of Muslim convert Izwan Abdullah against his ex-wife S. Deepa in Negri Sembilan, and kindergarten teacher M. Indira Gandhi against her former husband Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah in Perak.

In both cases, the men had converted themselves and their children without the knowledge of their wives, resulting in the women claiming custody of their children.

The High Court had granted Indira full custody of her three children, but the Syariah High Court also awarded Mohd Ridzuan custody of the trio.

In Deepa and Izwan’s case, both the Syariah and civil courts have granted them custody of their children.

To avoid “being caught in the middle” between the Syariah and civil legal systems, Khalid said police would not act until the issues were resolved by the Courts.

However, Khairy said the matter should be resolved as soon as possible, and that the Cabinet would discuss it in a meeting on Friday.