KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 — The Malaysian Foreign Ministry is in the midst of securing the necessary approval for the four children of a Malaysian couple remanded by the Swedish authorities to be moved from the appointed local foster parents to a Muslim Malaysian family in Sweden.

In a statement, the ministry said it viewed with serious concern the detention of the Malaysian couple and had also requested for a legal team from the Malaysian government to hold a watching brief during the trial.

“Since the first day of the arrest, the ministry, through the Malaysian embassy in Stockholm, has been fully involved in providing assistance to the accused couple in many different ways,” it noted.

Through the diplomatic channel, the ministry said it issued a Diplomatic Note from the Malaysian government to the government of Sweden on several occasions in seeking the latter’s kind attention and good judgment.

“Official representations were made by the Malaysian ambassador to Sweden to the highest level of the relevant authorities,” it added.

The Malaysians were detained on December18 to facilitate investigations after they allegedly hit the hand of one of their children for not praying.

Wisma Putra said the continued remand of the Malaysian couple had caused a lot of anxiety among the Malaysian public, especially with the case being prolonged until today.

The ministry pledged that it would mobilise the available means in order for the case to be smoothly resolved soon and for the rights of the couple, as well as those of their children, be safeguarded.

The statement noted that Sweden upheld strong views on human rights and the protection of children, with Swedish laws in place as such for their local citizens as well as expatriates residing in Sweden to abide by.

“This, however, would not diminish on-going efforts undertaken by the ministry in promoting the rights and protection, welfare and safety of all the Malaysians involved,” it added. — Bernama