PETALING JAYA: A Pas leader has offered to act as a mediator to facilitate a reunion between M. Indira Gandhi and her daughter, Prasana Diksa, nearly 17 years after the child was taken away by her father following a unilateral religious conversion.
Sungai Buloh Pas chief Zaharuddin Muhammad said the legal and religious aspects of the long-running case had effectively been settled, and that the focus should now shift to humanitarian and family considerations.
“This is no longer an issue of law or religion. This is an issue of humanity and motherhood.
“The sole objective is to reunite a mother and child who have been separated for almost two decades,” he said at a press conference.
He said Prasana, who is now 17 and nearing adulthood, should be allowed to meet her mother regardless of religious differences.
Zaharuddin said he was willing to engage directly with Prasana, her father Muhammad Riduan Abdullah, or any family members or guardians involved, including travelling overseas if necessary.
“I am ready to meet anyone involved, even if they are outside Malaysia.
“My commitment is to ensure that the mother and child can meet again,” he said, while assuring that Prasana’s religious status would not be interfered with.
Responding to questions on why Pas was only stepping in now, Zaharuddin said his involvement was not driven by political timing or electoral considerations, but by humanitarian concern in his personal capacity after being briefed in detail on the case.
He said he had only recently been approached and fully informed about Indira’s situation, and once he understood the background, he felt compelled to act.
“When this was brought to my attention, I did not hesitate.
“This is not about elections or politics. This is about humanity,” he said, adding that mediation and family reconciliation had long been part of his personal work, even if it did not always attract public attention.
Also present were Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) executive director Latheefa Koya, Indira, social media influencer Syarul Ema Rena Abu Samah, also known as ‘Ratu Naga’, and actress Rafidah Ibrahim.
At the same press conference, Latheefa reiterated that the case had been conclusively decided by the courts, including the Federal Court, which affirmed an order for Prasana to be returned to her mother.
“The legal position is clear. There is a valid court order directing that the child be returned to Puan Indira. This order has never been complied with.”
She said successive governments and police leadership had failed to enforce the ruling, despite contempt proceedings being upheld against the then inspector-general of police.
“This is a tale of grief and sadness.
“A mother lost her baby when the child was only 11 months old and has never been reunited with her since.
“This is not a political issue and must not be exploited for political gain,” she said.
Latheefa criticised what she described as repeated excuses by the authorities, including claims that Prasana and her father could not be traced.
“The police can track terrorists and organised criminals. It is simply not believable that they cannot locate one man and a child,” she said, urging the government to demonstrate political will and professionalism in enforcing the court’s decision.
Zaharuddin appealed to anyone with information on Prasana’s whereabouts to contact him directly, reiterating that the initiative was aimed solely at healing a broken family.
Riduan has been a fugitive since 2018 after an arrest warrant was issued against him for failing to comply with a court order to return Prasana to her mother, following his defeat in a prolonged legal dispute over custody and the unilateral conversion of their children.
In 2009, he converted the couple’s three children to Islam without Indira’s knowledge or consent and subsequently sought custody through the Syariah Court.
On Jan 29, 2018, the Federal Court declared the conversions invalid and directed the inspector-general of police to enforce the High Court’s order by arresting Riduan.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
