KAJANG: The Welfare Department has received 98 requests from parents to return their children rescued in Op Global, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
She said the requests involved more than 200 children taken by the police from welfare homes allegedly linked to Global Ikhwan Holdings Sdn Bhd, where the children were believed to be exploited and sexually abused.
"Before we can return them to their parents, there is a process to go through. They need to be checked whether those claiming are really their parents, and the children need to be screened by the Health Ministry to ensure that they do not have any health issues or scars.
"Then, we will file a request to the court before allowing them to return to their parents."
She told reporters this after attending the "Toleransi Sifar@Advokasi Anti Gangguan Seksual" programme at Universiti Tenaga Nasional here today.
Nancy gave her assurance that the department and the ministry would try to expedite the process.
"We do not want to keep these kids too long, it's not easy. We also understand the feeling of a mother being separated from their child."
She also denied that the mothers were not able to contact their children.
"They can contact them, but maybe there is a technical problem. If they are your children, prove it, then we can start the process of releasing them. But be rest assured, we will expedite the matter," she added.
Nancy had, on Saturday, said of the 660 children rescued in Op Global; the court had ordered 559 of them to be placed under the Social Welfare Department's custody starting from October until December this year.