‘Settle money dispute or we’ll intervene’

RM300,000 FUND: Welfare Dept to take custody of 2 orphans if family can’t come to agreement, says minister

FAMILY members of two orphans were told to settle a dispute over donations totalling RM300,000 meant for the children as the Welfare Department will not hesitate to intervene.

A relative had claimed that the future of the children, whose parents and a sibling were killed in an accident on the Duke Highway in May last year, remained uncertain as she had only received RM12,000 of the total amount of the donations.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim yesterday said the department would step in and take custody of the children if the dispute was not settled soon.

In the accident, Fairuz Nizam Husain, 35, his wife, Nova Safitri Azhari, 27, and their 6-month-old daughter, Nur Firuza Annisa, were killed. The two orphans are Nur Firuza Amira, 8, and Nur Firuza Aqila, 5.

“I am disappointed to learn about this. The victims’ family had assured me that they would take good care of the children.

“If this problem is not solved, we have no choice but to intervene and take the children into our custody until we find them a suitable family.

“We wanted the children to be cared for and loved by their immediate family, but this problem is not good for them.

“It would be in their best interest if we solve this issue quickly,” she said after chairing the National Women and Family Development council meeting here.

Rohani said a counsellor from the ministry had also been tasked to look into the wellbeing of the children.

“I have yet to receive the full report about the case as we will only decide on the next course of action after evaluating the report,” she said.

Following the accident, RM300,000 was collected for the children through a donation drive. A relative was also entrusted to look after them. However, another family member recently claimed that the funds were misappropriated.

Rohani said she would leave the matter to the police to investigate while the ministry would monitor the children’s welfare.