Shahrizat to help mother

2009/11/29

KUALA LUMPUR: The Women, Family and Community Development Minister said she will do what she can to help reunite a mother with her 5-year-old son, purportedly abducted by her former husband and taken to Belgium. Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said she had contacted Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to see what can be done to return Ferris Mokhtar van de Ven to his mother, Elis Syuhaila Mokhtar.

At a Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration here yesterday, Shahrizat said: "This issue is out of the ministry's jurisdiction as it involves legal issues between the two countries.

"I have also asked him to help Elis so that her son can be returned to her in accordance to the order issued by the Syariah Court earlier this month."

She said she would also seek advice on the legal issues from Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.

Dutchman Frank van de Ven took his son away in March in the midst of a long and bitter custody battle.

Last month, the Syariah Court gave Elis custody of the boy, granting Van de Ven visitation rights unde Elis' supervision. He was also ordered to pay costs.

In an email to the New Sunday Times, Van de Ven said he feared bringing Ferris back to Malaysia because Elis could disappear with him as he said she did for 480 days from Nov 10, 2007.

He said an arrest warrant was issued when she failed to turn up for a custody hearing last year.

On her part, Elis claims her former husband was abusive, and had threatened to kill her and other family members.

Shahrizat also reminded Malaysian women to learn about the marriage laws and their rights both here and in the country of origin of their potential husbands before getting married.

She added she would not comment on the proposed amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce Act 1976) until the ministry legal advisers had reviewed them.

According to Shahrizat, there was no problem with the act itself, but the application may sometimes be incorrect.

On Thursday, the Malaysian Bar called for a clarification of the proposal.