KUALA LUMPUR: Hujan frontman Noh Salleh has dismissed allegations of kidnapping his adopted child, Musa, and his subsequent arrest by the authorities as baseless accusations.
Clarifying the matter, Noh, whose real name is Mohammad Noh Salleh, 39, said there is no element of abduction, as claimed.
Instead, he has obtained the birth mother's consent to take care of the child.
"Musa was willingly handed over by his birth mother. This responsibility was entrusted to me. It is not a custody dispute, but rather in accordance with the law and supported by documents.
"Currently, Musa is under my care and is very happy. I am indeed heavily slandered," he said in an interview on the Melodi programme broadcast on TV3 earlier today.
Noh said there was a need to defend himself since there was no kidnapping involved, contrary to what was spread and reported by the media.
He said he had never been arrested.
Instead, he had been asked to appear at the police station to give his statement.
"There was no handcuffing or anyone being taken into custody. Everything went smoothly.
"Alhamdulillah, the police also understood the situation. There is indeed no criminal element. Frankly, I felt shaken when the kidnapping accusation was widely discussed.
"It's just people talking... I don't even know the source of the story."
He said an attempt to discuss custody arrangements with his former wife, Mizz Nina had been made but was proven unsuccessful.
"We have tried to contact my ex-wife regarding Musa's custody. I put aside my ego for Musa's sake and committed 150 per cent to sit down and talk, but it still failed.
"We are mature individuals, both in our forties. There is no time to argue or create drama. I have also contacted people around her, but the result remains the same.
"My main mission is to seek peace, and both parties can take care of Musa and shower him with love."
Noh said he does not intend to separate Mizz Nina from Musa, but his action is merely to prove that he could also take care of their son.
"I want both of us to have joint rights and provide the best for Musa while raising him in a harmonious environment. Hopefully, we can set aside our egos and discuss for Musa's well-being," he said.
Earlier, the media reported that the child of a female celebrity was taken by a foreign domestic worker, leading to a police report being filed at the Ampang police station.
Following that, the domestic worker was successfully apprehended by the police on the day of the incident, and the investigation revealed that the ex-husband of the celebrity was alleged to be the mastermind behind the abduction.
Sharing his excitement about spending time with his beloved child, Noh is thrilled to witness Musa's growing antics.
He said he had been with Musa since birth and that some people may not understand how close they were.
He said the past few weeks spent with the boy had been the most beautiful moments of his life.
Despite being only three years old, Musa could already understand and speak, he said.
"When I pray, Musa sits beside me and prays too. In the morning, when he wakes up, Musa calls me 'dad.'
"I have found the true meaning of life. I live my days filled with beauty and immense happiness."