I would like to share a personal story of my twin grandchildren who were recently abducted by their biological father and stepmother.  The couple had knowingly and illegally kidnaped the twins from Malaysia to Germany while there was an ongoing custody case.

Our Malaysian Immigration had been forewarned by my lawyer of this possibility but in spite of the children’s names being blacklisted by a court order, they were somehow let out of the country. I was unable to prevent them from being taken out due to the non-cooperation of the authorities both at KLIA and at Singapore where the children were taken on transit.  

However, my love and concern for my grandchildren who have been under my care ever since their birth made me pursue them to Germany. There I engaged a lawyer who helped me locate the children’s whereabouts and legally removed them from the biological father and stepmother to a welfare centre under the care of a state-appointed foster parent.  

The twins were well cared for then and a court hearing ensued which resulted in the twins being handed to their biological father. I was distraught and appealed to the higher court for reconsideration, pleading for the twin’s emotional well-being and security.  

I was worried sick as to how the couple, especially the stepmother (who in Malaysia has allegations of child abuse charge against her by her 11-year old stepson) would treat my grandchildren.

I appreciate the German government’s handling of the whole situation. With my lawyer and the state appointed lawyers (for the children) and the children’s guardian, I was allowed visits to be with my grandchildren in the ensuing weeks. Meanwhile, the state welfare people together with the lawyers made observations and submissions to the court in support of the return of my grandchildren to me.  

In this process, the appeals court judges awarded me the sole custody of the children! It was a victory of love and compassion which reunited the twins with me and my family where they had always belonged.  

I am grateful to the German authorities, especially the people at the welfare centres and the foster parent for the twins, who could see beyond legalities and into the hearts of the little children. We are thankful to them for their unbiased and fair assessment of the case and for their effective processes which made it possible for our return. Not forgetting too the kindness and warmth provided by our Malaysian consulate staff in Frankfurt, who helped ease our trauma and made smooth and safe our homecoming.

 

This is also a call to our Malaysian government to move forward in our campaign and fight against child abuse with its many treacherous paths the innocent are led through in order to attain their love and freedom; sometimes facing hurt, pain and tragically even death.

Our focus should be on the child’s interest at heart. We should empower the state or district councils to enable them to act without delay for the child’s welfare. Once we remove the red tape and cut protocol, officials at state level can then administer directly the issues involving matters of abuse or abduction of the young and vulnerable. Like in the German system, we too can make child welfare a priority and not lose our focus because of legalities.  

 

I sincerely hope the relevant ministry will effectively look into this matter and put in place radical changes and processes to help children under all circumstances, be it abuse or abduction.