PUTRAJAYA: The Pulangkan Anak Anak Kami (PAAK) movement, a coalition of parents, is demanding the immediate return of their children who were taken by the Social Welfare Department during Op Global, which involved GISB Holdings (GISB).
Its spokesperson Datuk Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz who is also FT Bersatu information chief said that the parents had claimed irregularities during the operation.
These claims include unlawful detentions, human rights violations, and breaches of Articles 9 and 18 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
He said that the group wanted the government to promptly return the children, adding that their initial detention was a mistake stemming from faulty intelligence, as well as flawed police and Social Welfare Department investigations.
"PAAK is also calling for disciplinary action against the officers involved in these wrongful arrests, particularly those who allegedly exploited parents unfamiliar with the law, coercing them into signing documents that could have legal repercussions," he said at a press conference today.
Additionally, the group is seeking a judicial review of the extended detention orders, claiming that the requests made by the Social Welfare Department to the court may have been based on information obtained through deceit and coercion.
"PAAK is also demanding immediate communication with affected parents regarding the whereabouts of their children and the right to visit them," he added.
PAAK has also called for access to be granted to the media and parents to evaluate the conditions of the children still held at Social Welfare Department facilities.
"The group is urging the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Human Rights and Gender Equality to investigate the Inspector-General of Police and the Director of the Social Welfare Department for violating the rights of the affected families.
"They are also advocating for the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the execution of Ops Global, which they claim was disorganised, exceeded its mandate, and violated laws and human rights," he said.