Public needs clear answer on Riduan, Prasana's whereabouts

 

 We take note of the Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail’s statement yesterday regarding the latest developments in the M Indira Gandhi case.

However, the statement leaves serious, long-standing questions unanswered.

After 16 years of separation between a mother and her child, the public is entitled to clear answers – not general assurances.

Our questions:

• Why did the IGP not address the public directly?

• Why did the IGP himself not appear to present this crucial update?

• Why did the response only come after intense pressure from local and international media?

• Why has there been no consistent, transparent briefing on this case over the years?

If the case is a priority, the public deserves direct accountability from the nation’s top law enforcement officer.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail

Our questions:

• What happened to the “special task force”? The Royal Malaysia Police previously announced a task force for this case.

• Is it still active?

• Who leads it, and what have been the results of their work?

• Why is the team not mentioned at all in the latest statement?

A special task force that operates without visibility, updates or outcomes is effectively non-existent.

Our questions:

• Why was the investigation concentrated in Kelantan?

• Who directed the investigation to be overly focused in Kelantan?

• Were other critical leads, states and cross-border intelligence properly pursued?

• Did this narrow focus cause delays and lost opportunities to find Prasana?

Strategy and failures

The public deserves clarity on investigative strategy and failures.

A poster of Riduan Abdullah

Our questions:

• The 2020 enforcement failure: How did Riduan escape again?

• In 2020, PDRM issued a summons in Bachok, Kelantan. If police had enough information to issue the summons, how did Riduan escape once more?

• Was there an operational failure?

• Has anyone been held accountable for this lapse?

These must be answered openly.

Our questions:

• Why was the police "negotiating" with a fugitive? A former IGP admitted that the police were negotiating with Riduan.

• Under what legal authority can police negotiate with a fugitive in contempt of court?

• Were these negotiations documented and reported to the court or the Attorney-General’s Chambers?

• Did such negotiations delay the enforcement of the recovery order for Prasana?

This revelation demands full transparency.

Our questions:

• Immigration red flag: Why no action?

• Despite travel bans and court orders, why was there no halangan keluar/masuk for Riduan or his wife?

• How were they able to renew their vehicle road tax with no trace alerts?

• How did Riduan successfully withdraw EPF (KWSP) funds last year?

• How could both receive government aid (BSH, SARA100, etc.) using traceable identities?

• Why were these red flags not immediately escalated to enforcement teams?

• These are not small errors – they are systemic failures.

Our questions:

• Where is Prasana's updated image?

• Where is the age-progressed sketch of Prasana based on her last known photo (aged around six)?

• Why have the police not widely distributed updated visuals domestically and internationally?

• What is the status of the three children allegedly born in Riduan's new marriage? Are they missing?

• Are they enrolled in known schools? If they are traceable, why is Prasana alone untraceable?

These questions must be answered urgently.

M Indira Gandhi

Experts required

Given the long list of unresolved issues, we urge for an immediate transfer of the investigation to a dedicated Bukit Aman Special Team, the Ipoh police headquarters to be relieved as lead investigator due to 16 years of unproductive progress, and a full internal audit to determine operational negligence or misconduct.

This case requires expertise in child abduction, digital forensics and cross-border crime. So, our demands moving forward, we urge the IGP to hold a full, direct press conference to answer these specific questions, and provide a written and point-by-point clarification addressing each issue.

We also urge the IGP to present a clear and time-bound enforcement plan to comply with the High Court Recovery Order and prioritise this case as a matter of national accountability and child-protection urgency.

After sixteen long years, Malaysia does not need more promises. We need action, truth and enforcement. Indira deserves closure. Prasana deserves to be found. - Mkini

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ARUN DORASAMY is the Indira Gandhi Action Team chairperson.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.