‘What if kids are taken back by force?’

The police’s refusal to enforce the law in custody tussles involving a Muslim parent continues to strike a wrong chord, with MIC being the latest to lend its voice to the chorus of protest.

A livid MIC Youth chief C Sivaraajh (right) asked what would happen if someone forcefully took the children from their Muslim convert fathers and returned them to their mothers.

“Will the inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar remain in the middle path then as well?

“Or will the police act against those who volunteer to enforce the court orders by taking the children since the police are not willing to do so?” he told Malaysiakini yesterday.

Sivaraajh said the IGP should stop giving “Gandhi-like” excuses of being neutral and execute his duties to serve and protect the public.

“The police must be seen to be firm in acting against those who breach the law. But in these cases, Khalid is not showing the seriousness demanded and expected of him,” he added.

He said the police appear to suffer from a similar “paralysis of duty” when tackling cases involving the likes of controversial academic Ridhuan Tee Abdullah (left) and Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma).

Sivaraajh noted that despite a slew of police reports being lodged against these peddlers of racial animosity, investigations seem to be moving at a snail’s pace, if at all.

“What these people preach are clear-cut threats to national unity and security, but the authorities appear to be reluctant to act,” he said.

Amend the law

Meanwhile, Sivaraajh also called on parliamentarians to push for the necessary legal amendments to resolve such interfaith disputes and conflicting jurisdictions.

“It is totally unfair for non-Muslims to abide or be victimised by Syariah court rulings.

"A solution must be found. Taking the so-called middle path is not the answer,” he said.

Yesterday, the IGP had reiterated his stand, saying that the police is “sandwiched” between two sets of laws, one Islamic and the other civil.

This despite the police being a civil enforcement authority with the Islamic authorities having their own separate enforcement bodies.

Prior to that, he ignited a firestorm of protest by suggesting that the children involved in custody disputes be placed in childcare centres where both parents could visit.

Earlier, he was slammed for refusing to act according to a High Court ruling on S Deepa's (left) case where the mother had been awarded custody but the father had proceeded to abduct the child regardless.

His inaction also continues in the face of a statement by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri that the police must uphold the Civil Court's decision.

Furthermore, in a separate Ipoh High Court ruling on another similar case the judge specifically highlighted that the Civil Court supersedes Syariah Court.

Apart from MIC, Khalid also came under fire from MCA Youth, who told him to resign if he is unable to enforce the law, and Gerakan, who said Malaysians have the right to be concerned about their future when such remarks are made by high-ranking officers.

On the other hand, a DAP MP called for the police chief to be cited for contempt while the interfaith council reminded him that duty is above personal sentiments.

Despite the raging controversy, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, whose ministry oversees the police force, dodged the bullet when quizzed on the matter yesterday.

Zahid also responded to his cabinet colleague Shukri's statement saying they would "discuss further".