25/04/2026

SATURDAY | APR 25, 2026

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Indira faces fresh setback in 17-year search for daughter

Ruling on Zahid’s acquittal bid on May 14

KUALA LUMPUR: The decision on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s application to be discharged and acquitted of 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds will be delivered on May 14. High Court Judge Nurulhuda Nur’aini Mohamad Nor fixed the date after counsel Datuk Hamidi Mohd Noh, representing Ahmad Zahid, informed the court that the defence had applied to vacate yesterday’s earlier decision date pending a Court of Appeal ruling on May 7. “The court sets May 14 for the decision, subject to the outcome of the Court of Appeal on May 7,” she said. Earlier, Hamidi said the defence had filed a letter on April 20 seeking to vacate yesterday’s decision date pending the appellate court’s ruling. The proceedings were also attended by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Shahrizzat Armadan and lawyer Collin Andrew, who held a watching brief for the Malaysian Bar. The Bar filed an appeal against the High Court’s decision rejecting its application for leave to challenge the attorney-general’s decision to discontinue proceedings in Ahmad Zahid’s case. On Feb 24, the prosecution did not object to Ahmad Zahid’s application to be discharged and acquitted of the charges, but Justice Nurulhuda said the court would not decide on the application until the Court of Appeal ruled on the matter involving the Malaysian Bar. – Bernama PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission now requires all its personnel to declare their involvement in non-governmental organisations as a measure to strengthen integrity and prevent any conflict of interest within the organisation. Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the move was crucial to ensure the agency’s reputation and credibility were consistently safeguarded, particularly in situations involving misappropriation cases that could undermine public trust. “This is a proactive step to ensure the MACC’s image is always preserved, especially in situations where there are cases of misconduct involving NGOs that could have significant implications if not handled carefully,” he said in a statement issued in conjunction with the commission’s monthly assembly on Thursday. Azam said global economic uncertainty arising from geopolitical conflicts had placed pressure on departmental operating costs, making it necessary to implement comprehensive, prudent and disciplined cost-saving measures at all levels of the organisation. – Bernama ‘MACC staff must declare NGO links’

triggered years of legal battles across both court systems. On May 30, 2014, the High Court annulled the syariah court’s custody order, cited Pathmanathan for contempt and directed police to recover Prasana and arrest him. He failed to return the child by the court’s deadline, and she has not been found since. Subsequent proceedings saw further legal challenges, including appeals involving police and the Attorney-General’s Chambers over enforcement of the recovery order. In 2018, the Federal Court ruled that the unilateral conversion of the children was unlawful and affirmed that the consent of both parents was required, while confirming the civil courts’ jurisdiction over such matters. Despite the ruling, Prasana remains missing and Pathmanathan has not been located. Indira has continued her legal fight since 2009, travelling frequently between Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya while supporting her family.

o Planned court hearing abruptly vacated as mother presses police over missing child

Ű BY T.C. KHOR newsdesk@thesundaily.com

evidence in her lawsuit against the authorities. “This raises serious concerns that his whereabouts are traceable, and the authorities have the means but have intentionally failed to act,” Rajesh said. He added that the contempt application was another legal avenue to increase pressure on the authorities. “A successful contempt application would increase pressure on the authorities and potentially compel focused efforts to recover the child.” The High Court had been expected to decide whether to grant leave for contempt proceedings to begin. If allowed, the court would then hear the case and determine whether the IGP had committed contempt. No new date was immediately

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal here dismissed an appeal by Kepala Batas MP Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad against a Penang High Court decision ordering her to pay damages and costs totalling RM825,000 for defaming three DAP leaders by linking them to Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng. A three-member bench led by Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid, sitting with Datin Paduka Evrol Mariette Peters and Datuk Seri Latifah Mohd Tahar, dismissed the appeal after finding it without merit. Delivering the unanimous decision, Justice Ahmad Kamal said the appellate court affirmed the entirety of the High Court judgment delivered on Dec 4, PETALING JAYA: Following 17 years of legal battle to locate her missing daughter, M. Indira Gandhi (pic) faced another disappointment when a planned court hearing was unexpectedly vacated. “It’s getting ridiculous nowadays,” she told theSun , saying she was only informed on Thursday afternoon that there would be no hearing. Indira said the matter had been vacated and there was “no case today”, describing the late notice as yet another frustration in a legal struggle that has stretched on for nearly two decades. “If they can find criminals within hours, why can’t they find my child after so many years? Even after 17 years, I’m still waiting for answers,” she said yesterday. She also said it would not be difficult to trace her ex-husband through government welfare aid programmes. Thursday’s hearing was her second attempt to cite the inspector-general of police for contempt. She filed the application on Nov 17 last year and it was heard by the High Court on Feb 27. The application centres on the police’s alleged continued failure to enforce a High Court order issued on May 30, 2014 to recover her daughter Prasana Diksa and arrest her ex-husband, K. Pathmanathan, now known as Muhammad Riduan Abdullah. Her lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan was reported as saying the latest development reflected a prolonged failure to act despite a valid court order as well as information suggesting Pathmanathan was accessing government aid schemes. The alleged access to Budi95 and Sara100 was also raised in recent court proceedings, where Indira sought to introduce it as fresh

announced. The case began in 2009 when Pathmanathan converted to Islam and converted the couple’s three children without Indira’s consent. Weeks later, he took Prasana, then aged 11 months, and left with her. In the same year, the Ipoh High Court granted Indira full custody of the children, while the syariah court granted custody to Pathmanathan, resulting in conflicting orders that

Participants of a rally in support of Indira held in front of Sogo last year. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ FILEPIC/THESUN

MP fails in appeal against defamation suit by DAP trio 2024, including the award of global damages and costs totalling RM825,000. On Jan 23, 2025 Siti Mastura settled payment of RM830,034.75 in damages and legal costs, including interest, to Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng and Teresa Kok Suh Sim. the basis that, as a Malaysian politician speaking during an election campaign, she had a social and moral duty to inform party members about the ideologies and backgrounds of political opponents. Nasional’s communications department was misguided as the source lacked a recognisable author, publisher or date, while its creator was not called to testify. “This omission signifies a lack of care and diligence, precluding any honest belief in the publication’s truth and nullifying the defence of qualified privilege.

The court, however, found the defence unsustainable as it failed to meet the essential requirements, particularly the element of an honest belief in the truth of the publication. Ahmad Kamal said the defendant did not take appropriate steps to verify the accuracy of the statements before publication, including failing to seek the plaintiffs’ side of the story. The bench also held that her reliance on a book allegedly linked to Barisan

“In the context of Malaysian society, to label a person or imply that they are affiliated with a banned Communist Party, or are enemies of the state or a threat to national security and the Federal Constitution, is undeniably defamatory. Such statements go to the very heart of a person’s loyalty, integrity and reputation,”Ahmad Kamal said. He noted that the defendant relied on the defence of qualified privilege on

“We are of the view that the defendant cannot rely on qualified privilege as a valid defence, given the reckless failure to verify the truth of the statements. We are of the view that the High Court judge had properly evaluated the defences of justification, fair comment and defendant failed to prove any of them,”he said. – Bernama