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Media Statement
by Karpal Singh
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(Kuala Lumpur, Saturday) : Women’s Aid organisation executive director, Ivy Josiah, has said she hoped the settlement reached with regard to custody of the children with the consent of Raimah Bibi to P. Marimuthu had not been brought about under duress. There is a clear, unwarranted and sinister insinuation in that statement. 

There is no question of the settlement having been brought about under duress. The terms of the settlement were reached yesterday in the morning between myself and Selangor State Legal Advisor, Datuk Zauyah Be binti T. Loth Khan, on behalf of Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS). It was then recorded by the Judge, Datuk Su Geok Yiam, in Open Court with Raimah Bibi confirming the arrangement in Open Court. Above all, Raimah Bibi had affirmed an affidavit on 2^nd May, 2007 stating she had no objections to allow her husband, P. Marimuthu, to have custody of the children and raise them as Hindus.[ A copy of the said affidavit and the translation thereof in English is attached herewith]

I am calling upon Ivy Josiah to withdraw her statement and apologise to the Judge, Datuk Su Geok Yiam, the Selangor State Legal Advisor, Datuk Zauyah Be binti T. Loth Khan, myself, P. Marimuthu and Raimah Bibi. The retraction and apology is warranted in the public interest to remove any doubts which have been created by Ivy Josiah’s statement. Ivy Josiah should, in future, not make statements which have no basis.

(5/5/2007)