Cerai isteri talak satu

Siti Khalifah Sulong mencium tangan Tuan Azman Tuan Ludin selepas mereka bercerai di Mahkamah Rendah Syariah Jeli, Jeli, semalam.

Oleh NIZAM YATIM

JELI 26 April - Mangsa simbahan asid, Tuan Azman Tuan Ludin hari ini secara rasmi melafazkan cerai talak satu terhadap isterinya, Siti Khalifah Sulong di Mahkamah Rendah Syariah di sini.

Dia melafazkan cerai di hadapan Hakim Syarie Zaini Sulaiman selepas Siti Khalifah yang berdiri di sebelahnya menyatakan persetujuan dengan keputusan bakal diambil oleh suaminya tanpa memperlihatkan sebarang emosi.

Sejurus selepas Tuan Azman, 33, melafazkan perkataan tersebut, Siti Khalifah, 54, yang bertudung putih dan berbaju batik berwarna merah jambu bersalaman dan mencium tangan bekas suaminya sambil meminta segala kesilapannya pada masa lalu dimaafkan.

Ketika di luar mahkamah, Siti Khalifah yang kini ditahan di Penjara Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Bharu sekali lagi dilihat bersalaman dan mencium tangan serta pipi bekas suaminya.

Bekas tentera itu mendirikan rumah tangga dengan Siti Khalifah di selatan Thailand kira-kira 13 tahun lalu dan mereka dikurniakan cahaya mata tunggal, Tuan Nor Safida, 11.

Tuan Azman yang juga bekas jurulatih taekwando kini cacat di muka dan badan selepas disimbah cuka getah ketika sedang tidur yang didakwa dilakukan Siti Khalifah seorang warganegara Thailand di kediaman mereka di Kampung Legeh, di sini, pada 31 Julai tahun lalu.

Kejadian itu berlaku apabila Siti Khalifah dikatakan tidak dapat menerima kenyataan bahawa bekas anggota tentera itu ingin berpoligami.

Siti Khalifah kemudiannya dihadapkan di Mahkamah Sesyen Kota Bharu atas tuduhan sengaja mencederakan suaminya dengan asid mengikut Seksyen 326 Kanun Keseksaan.

Kes tersebut ditangguhkan sehingga 25 Mei ini kerana pihak pendakwa masih menunggu keputusan Jabatan Peguam Negara bagi menukar pertuduhan daripada Seksyen 326 Kanun Keseksaan kepada Seksyen 325 yang membawa hukuman lebih ringan.

Sejurus prosiding selesai, Tuan Azman yang ditemui pemberita berkata, dia menceraikan Siti Khalifah kerana tidak mahu lagi duduk bersamanya.

``Perasaan (sayang) ada lagi, ini saya tak nafikan, tapi saya nak duduk tenang dan tak mahu dia masuk campur lagi,'' ujarnya.

Dia berkata keputusan untuk bercerai tersebut tiada kaitan dengan hasratnya untuk meneruskan perkahwinan dengan tunangnya, Noraimi Ghazali, 22, pada 9 Jun ini.

Sementara itu, Siti Khalifah berkata, dia berharap bekas suaminya itu membenarnya bertemu anak tunggal mereka, Tuan Nor Safida sebulan sekali. [UM]

Noraniza Idris-Fareez bercerai talak satu

Oleh KHADIJAH IBRAHIM
KUALA LUMPUR 26 April - Penyanyi irama Malaysia, Noraniza Idris bercerai talak satu dengan suaminya, Fareez pada 7 April lalu.

Fareez atau Mohd. Fauzi Mohd. Tajuddin, 43, melafazkan cerai terhadap Noraniza, 38, di rumah abang penyanyi tersebut di Desa Pandan di sini pada pukul 9.30 malam.

Menurut Noraniza atau lebih mesra dengan panggilan Ani, sewaktu Fareez melafazkan talak, ketiga-tiga abangnya ada sebagai saksi.

Katanya, kes perceraian mereka itu akan disahkan di Mahkamah Rendah Syariah, pada 4 Mei ini.

Pada 4 April lalu, Fareez pernah membuat sumpah penafian di Mahkamah Syariah bahawa dia tidak ada niat untuk menjatuhkan talak terhadap Noraniza semasa menulis khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) pada 7 September 2005.

Berdasarkan sumpah penafian itu dan keterangan yang diberikan pada 1 Mac lalu, Hakim Syarie Shamsudin Hussin memutuskan bahawa ikatan pernikahan antara Fareez dan Noraniza masih sah.

Namun takdir menentukan jodoh mereka tidak panjang.

Hasil perkahwinan yang dibina pada 31 Mac 1988 itu, mereka dikurniakan dua orang anak, Mohd. Alif Haikal, 17, dan Mohd Alfeq Haikal, 13.

Menurut penyanyi itu lagi, keputusan untuk bercerai diambil setelah dia dan Fareez mengadakan perbincangan dari hati ke hati bagi mengatasi kemelut yang dialami.

``Demi masa depan masing-masing, kami berbincang dari hati ke hati dan mengambil keputusan untuk berpisah.

``Dia ada kerjaya sendiri dan Ani dengan tanggungjawab Ani. Jadi setelah berbincang sebelah siang dan malamnya, bersaksikan abang-abang Ani, kami bercerai,'' katanya ketika dihubungi Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Katanya, walaupun keputusan itu telah mengubah segala-galanya, namun hubungannya dengan Fareez tetap baik demi anak-anak.

Menurut Noraniza, anak-anak mereka sedih dengan keputusan tersebut tetapi menerima dengan pasrah.

Buat masa ini, Noraniza berkata, anak-anaknya masih tinggal dengan Fareez dan dia akan bertemu dengan mereka pada hujung minggu.

``Ani tidak boleh mengubah rutin kehidupan mereka kerana anak-anak masih bersekolah. Kalau ada masa Ani akan bertemu mereka. Lagipun anak-anak sudah besar terpulang kepada mereka untuk ikut siapa,'' katanya. [UM]

Nikah di katil imam

AKAD nikah di hospital... Saad Yaakob, 76, dari Kampung Pulau Timbul, Tunjang menyarungkan cincin ke jari pasangan barunya, Safura Mat Isa, 59, selepas mereka diijab kabul oleh jurunikah Abdul Kader Ahmad dari atas katilnya di Wad Lelaki, Hospital Jitra, Jitra semalam. Majlis itu berlangsung dalam suasana cukup meriah, dihadiri anak-anak serta cucu kedua-dua pengantin tersebut.

JITRA 22 April - Indah, Suka dan Ceria. Begitulah suasananya apabila sepasang pengantin warga tua terpaksa melangsungkan majlis akad nikah mereka di wad Hospital Jitra, di sini hari ini.

Keadaan ini berlaku bukan kerana pasangan itu, Saad Yaakob, 76, dan pasangannya Safura Mat Isa, 59, sakit.

Sebaliknya tok imam yang mahu menikahkan mereka itu yang sakit dan terlantar atas katil.

Dalam keadaan imam Pida 7, Jerlun, Abdul Kader Ahmad, 76, itu masih semput-semput - sakit jantung dan darah tinggi - pasangan berdua itu akhirnya berjaya diijabkabulkan.

Majlis itu berlangsung dalam suasana cukup meriah, dihadiri oleh anak-anak serta cucu kedua-dua pengantin tersebut.

Menurut Saad yang berasal dari Kampung Pulau Timbul, Tunjang di sini, dia sama sekali tidak menyangka perkahwinan kali keduanya akan diadakan di hospital dan bukan di masjid atau rumah.

``Kami sebenarnya merancang berkahwin di rumah adik pengantin perempuan di Pida 7 tetapi sebaik sampai ke rumah tersebut pada pukul 10 pagi ini, kami diberitahu jurunikah yang sepatutnya menikahkan kami telah dimasukkan ke hospital,'' katanya ketika ditemui di Hospital Jitra di sini.

Jurunikah terbabit, Abdul Kader ditahan di wad lelaki hospital berkenaan pada pukul 10 pagi semalam, selepas doktor mendapati tekanan darahnya naik mendadak.

Saad berkata, pihak pengantin lelaki telah pergi ke hospital dan berusaha membawa jurunikah itu datang ke majlis berkenaan tetapi tidak dibenarkan oleh pihak hospital.

Sehubungan itu katanya, mereka terpaksa merancang untuk bernikah di hospital tersebut.

Katanya, mereka tidak dapat menangguhkan majlis tersebut kerana semua persiapan telah disiap dilakukan.

`Kami tidak dapat menunda pernikahan ini memandangkan lebih 300 tetamu sudah dipanggil untuk ke majlis kenduri kahwin di rumah saya tengah hari ini,'' katanya.

Saad yang mempunyai empat orang anak, 15 cucu serta dua cicit memberitahu, perkahwinan keduanya itu adalah atas keinginan anak-anaknya yang tidak mahu melihatnya keseorangan selepas kematian isteri pada Oktober tahun lalu.

Sementara itu, bagi Safura yang juga mempunyai empat orang anak, perkahwinan tersebut merupakan kali ketiga selepas perkahwinan pertama berakhir dengan perceraian manakala suami keduanya meninggal dunia November tahun lalu.

Dalam pada itu, Abdul Kader ketika ditemui berkata, pernikahan tersebut mencatat sejarah dalam kerjayanya selama 30 tahun berkhidmat sebagai imam dan jurunikah.

Abdul Kader memberitahu, ketika datang melakukan pemeriksaan, beliau tidak menyangka akan dimasukkan ke hospital berikutan masalah kesihatan termasuk lemah jantung, darah tinggi, kencing manis dan kesukarannya bernafas. [UM]

Pasangan diarah berpisah nikah semula

AZMAN Nasaruddin dan Zanariah Abdullah gembira menjadi suami isteri semula selepas upacara pernikahan mereka di Kampung Parit Raja, Jalan Datuk Haji Kosai, Muar, Johor, semalam.

Oleh Suffian Abu Bakar

MUAR 9 April - Pasangan suami isteri yang diarahkan berpisah secara farakh pada 15 Februari lalu, Mohammad Nazirul Azman Nasaruddin dan Zanariah Abdullah akhirnya bernikah semula hari ini, setelah 52 hari tinggal berasingan.

Majlis pernikahan secara ringkas yang dihadiri kira-kira 50 ahli keluarga terdekat dan jiran, berlangsung di rumah ibu Zanariah di Kampung Parit Raja, Jalan Datuk Haji Kosai di sini pada pukul 4.40 petang.

Keputusan untuk bernikah semula itu dibuat oleh ibu pengantin perempuan dan secara kebetulan, tarikh hari ini jatuh pada hari ulang tahun Mohammad Nazirul Azman yang ke-24.

Majlis akad nikah pasangan itu dijalankan oleh Imam Daerah Muar, Musa Muda Al-Hafiz dan berwalikan abang kandung Zanariah yang sulung, Mohd. Bahauldin Abdullah, 25.

Saksi bagi pernikahan tersebut ialah dua saudara keluarga pihak perempuan iaitu Jalil Abdul Samad dan Muskandar Lias.

Dengan berpakaian serba kuning keemasan, Mohammad Nazirul Azman dengan sekali lafaz sah diakad nikah sebagai suami kepada Zanariah.

Zanariah, 24, dan Mohammad Nazirul Azman, yang bernikah pada 5 Februari tahun lalu telah diarahkan berpisah secara farakh oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Syariah Muar berkuat kuasa 15 Februari lalu kerana pernikahan mereka diiktiraf tidak sah.

Status pernikahan mereka itu terpaksa diputuskan oleh mahkamah syariah setelah pasangan terbabit mendakwa berlaku kekhilafan berhubung penggunaan wali hakim.

Pasangan itu sebelum ini mendakwa mereka menjadi mangsa pernikahan tersebut yang dianggap tidak sah kerana sewaktu majlis pernikahan itu, adik lelaki Zanariah berada pada majlis tersebut.

Bagaimanapun, Mahkamah Tinggi Syariah dalam surat perintah bertarikh 24 Februari baru-baru ini membenarkan pasangan itu bernikah semula pada bila-bila masa tanpa menunggu tiga kali suci (khuruk).

Mohammad Nazirul Azman dan Zanariah ketika ditemui melahirkan rasa bersyukur dan terharu kerana akhirnya mereka dapat disatukan semula sebagai pasangan suami isteri.

``Alhamdulillah sudah tentunya saya gembira dengan pernikahan hari ini dan saya sifatkan ia sebagai hadiah hari jadi yang paling bermakna buat diri saya,'' kata Mohammad Nazirul Azman.

Bagaimanapun, Zanariah terpaksa menangguhkan pernikahan mereka kira-kira sejam setelah siku tangan kanannya terseliuh ketika terjatuh di rumahnya malam semalam.

``Pada mulanya, saya bimbang juga tidak dapat meneruskan majlis pernikahan ini kerana tangan saya tidak mampu bergerak, namun saya bersyukur setelah menjalani rawatan, ia semakin pulih.

``Saya juga berharap semoga pernikahan ini akan menguatkan lagi semangat saya yang akan menduduki peperiksaan semester bermula pada 17 April depan,'' kata pelajar Fakulti Komunikasi dan Pengajian Media, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam itu ketika ditemui di rumahnya, di sini hari ini.

Menurut Zanariah, mengikut perancangan awal, dia dan suaminya berhasrat untuk bernikah semula pada penghujung Mac lalu ekoran desakan keluarga selain tidak mahu menangguhkan perancangan untuk bernikah itu terlalu lama.

Bagaimanapun, hasrat untuk bernikah itu tidak tercapai disebabkan beberapa masalah yang tidak dapat dielakkan. [UM]

Tengku Asmawi kahwin bekas penyanyi Puteri Sinaran

KEMAMAN 8 April - Duda kepada penyanyi Allahyarham Datuk Rafeah Buang, Datuk Tengku Asmawi Tengku Hussin, 61, hari ini melangsungkan persandingan dengan seorang kakitangan Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Pahang, Roslizawati Abd. Rahman di Kampung Meraga Beris, Kijal dekat sini.

Roslizawati, 27, yang bertugas sebagai penyanyi Majlis Perbandaran Kuantan (MPK) merupakan salah seorang bekas finalis program Sinaran Pasport Kegemilangan 1998 terbitan TV3 dan pernah menghasilkan sebuah album berjudul Puteri-Puteri Sinaran.

Tengku Asmawi yang juga kerabat diraja Pahang dan Roslizawati selamat diijabkabulkan malam tadi di rumah pengantin perempuan di Kampung Meraga Beris.

Pada persandingan kira-kira pukul 1 tengah hari ini, pasangan berkenaan mengenakan songket pengantin berwarna hijau tua.

Sultan Terengganu, Sultan Mizan serta Permaisuri Nur Zahirah dan Sultan Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah serta Sultanah Kalsom merupakan tetamu diraja yang berkenan hadir pada majlis persandingan itu.

Turut hadir kaum kerabat Pahang dan Menteri Besar Pahang, Datuk Adnan Yaakob.

Mingguan Malaysia dimaklumkan oleh ibu pengantin perempuan, Halimah Haron, 57, pihak lelaki menghantar sembilan dulang hantaran manakala pihak perempuan membalas dengan 11 dulang.

``Kami sekeluarga tidak menyangka Liza bertemu jodoh dengan kerabat diraja Pahang.

``Rasa syukur dan gembira kerana majlis ini berlangsung dengan lancar apatah lagi ia turut dihadiri Sultan Terengganu dan Sultan Pahang,'' katanya yang enggan menyatakan jumlah wang hantaran perkahwinan anaknya itu.

Sementara itu, kakak pengantin perempuan, Arina, 36, berkata, adiknya mengikat tali pertunangan dengan Tengku Asmawi pada Disember 2004.

Ditanya detik perkenalan Roslizawati dengan Tengku Asmawi, Arina berkata: ``Kami tidak pasti bila mereka berkenalan kerana Liza tidak pernah bercerita secara terperinci mengenai hubungannya dengan Tengku Asmawi.

``Liza hanya maklumkan kepada keluarga apabila Tengku Asmawi menyatakan akan menghantar rombongan meminang pada Disember 2004,'' ujarnya.

Tengku Asmawi merupakan duda kepada penyanyi veteran bersuara emas Datuk Rafeah Buang yang meninggal dunia pada 24 Julai 2002 akibat barah.

Hasil perkongsian hidup dengan Rafeah setelah menikahinya pada tahun 1971, Tengku Asmawi dikurniakan tiga orang anak iaitu Tengku Ahmad Ashraf, 33, dan Tengku Khairil Ashraf, 29, serta seorang anak angkat, Nurul Iman Saleha.

Bagaimanapun, anak ketiga pasangan itu, Tengku Amirul Ashraf meninggal dunia pada 1993 ketika berusia 11 tahun akibat kemalangan jalan raya.

Mum is thrilled to see her girl again

08/04/2006 Sharihah and Jaqueline Pascarl-Gillespie Picture: AAP IMAGE REUNITED with the daughter she lost to a custody battle 14 years ago, Jacqueline Pascarl-Gillespie could not contain her joy. “Oh she is stunning. She is amazing,” she said of 20-year-old Shahirah as the pair held each other in Melbourne yesterday. Mother and daughter have not been together since 1992, when Shahirah and her brother Iddin were illegally snatched from Australia by their Malay father. Eventually, the young woman tracked down her mother via the internet, and last weekend flew to Melbourne for an emotional reunion. “She is a really, really brave girl and incredibly intelligent and has an amazing sense of humour and a great feeling for life,” said Ms Pascarl-Gillespie in a videotaped interview provided to the media. “She is just terrific. She is everything you could hope or imagine that you would have for a daughter.” For Shahirah, it has been a time to enjoy the mother she missed for so long. “We are trying to make up for all the things we didn’t get to do,” she said. “And yeah, it’s been great. The first three days we had free of media, yeah, those were beautiful days.” Ms Pascarl-Gillespie married Malaysian Prince Raja Bahrin in 1980, and they had two children, who were born in Malaysia. She returned to Australia with the children after the prince took a second wife under Islamic law, but in 1992 he smuggled the children out of Australia during an access visit. The case became one of the most high-profile custody battles in Australian history and federal authorities tried unsuccessfully to return the children. Shahirah said it took some effort to re-establish contact with her mother. “I got her email (address) from a website and I emailed her,” she said. “It was a bit weird at first because I got an email back from her good friend, who was acting like a filter. “They gave me a pop quiz of about 10 questions — and only things I would know — or my brother would know, my brother Iddin. “I got all of them right.” Ms Pascarl-Gillespie said since that initial contact she had secretly rekindled her relationship with both Shahirah and Iddin, 22, via emails and telephone calls. “I have had contact with Iddin much less frequently, but still for three years, and it was just the three of us that knew about it all this time,” she said. “It was very secretive, it was very private. “And Iddin, you know, he has been finding his way, as young men often do and he is fabulous to speak to. “He is really lovely and quite shy and learning about himself, which is just brilliant.” Shahirah said she expected her brother would come to Melbourne to visit his mother as soon as his studies allowed. “Oh, he will, he will. He actually wanted to come with me,” Shahirah said. “He is a bit jealous now but he is still in the middle of his term and he won’t get off until a bit later. “So he is certainly going to try and come here.”

Gillespie stays mum as daughter returns

Found ... Shahirah, right, with her father and brother.

By staff writers and wires
05apr06

THE woman at the centre of one of Australia's most notorious custody battles said today she was "joyful" at being reunited with the daughter taken from her 14 years ago.

Jacqueline Gillespie, had her two children, Shahirah and Iddin, snatched away by their father, Malaysian prince, Raja Bahrin, in 1992.

But Shahirah, now 21, returned to Melbourne at the weekend to join her mother at the Hawthorn home she shares with her new husband Bill Cocaris.

Reading a statement outside their home today, Mr Cocaris said his wife, now known by her maiden name of Jacqueline Pascarl, wished to thank the media and others who had supported her.

"Jacqueline Pascarl and her daughter Shahirah would like to express their appreciation for your good wishes and support.

"They wish you to know that they are very, very happy – joyful in fact.

"This is, however, a very private time and sensitive indeed for the family and they ask you to understand and respect the need for restraint and privacy.

"There'll be no further comment or questions at this time."

Neighbours say they have seen the mother and daughter outside the house.

"Apparently they were very happy, they were holding hands and taking lots of photos," Channel 9 reported.

Ms Pascarl married Raja Bahrin in 1980, and they had two children who were born in Malaysia.

She returned to Australia with the children after the prince took a second wife under Islamic law, but in 1992 he smuggled the children out of Australia during an access visit.

Prince Bahrin, last night played down what would be an emotional reunion.

"She wants to be with her mother, so what is there for me to say?" he said from Malaysia. "It is only natural that she wants to visit her mother. She is a big girl now, going to be 21."

Prince Bahrin said Iddin, now 23, was studying at college and had not yet said he wanted to visit his mother.

"Let's take one thing at a time," he said.

"It is up to the kids so let things take their course. I don't think we should speculate about the future.

"I've said too much. I don't want this story to be another 'start all over again'. It's just a family visit."

Jacqueline Gillespie met and fell in love with Prince Bahrin when she was a 17-year-old ballet dancer and he was an architecture student at Melbourne University.

They married at Malaysia's Terengganu royal palace in March 1981.

The pair lived in Australia for six months before returning to Malaysia where they had two children.

Two weeks after Shahirah was born, the prince took another wife under Islamic law.

As his marriage to Ms Gillespie allegedly grew violent, she decided to escape and flew back to Australia with the children to visit her sick grandmother.

Ms Gillespie now has a four-year-old daughter, Verity Isabelle, born in 2001 to a Sydney businessman who left her at eight-months pregnant to return to his wife.

After her stint in Sydney, she returned to Melbourne in 2002, and in what was described as a whirlwind romance, married Hawthorn software accounts manager Bill Crocaris.

She has written a book, Once I was a Princess, about the abduction.

The case became one of the most high-profile custody battles in Australian history, adding to what was then a strained relationship between Australia and Malaysia as federal authorities tried unsuccessfully to return the children to Australia.
With AAP

Mum and stolen child reunited

Joy ... Shahirah and Jacqueline Pascarl-Gillespie / AAP

By Xavier La Canna and David Killick
April 07, 2006

REUNITED with the daughter she lost to a custody battle 14 years ago, Jacqueline Pascarl-Gillespie could not contain her joy.
"Oh she is stunning. She is amazing," she said of 20-year-old Shahirah as the pair held each other in Melbourne today.

Mother and daughter have not been together since 1992, when Shahirah and her brother Iddin were illegally snatched from Australia by their Malaysian father.

Eventually, the young woman tracked down her mother via the internet, and last weekend flew to Melbourne for an emotional reunion.

"She is a really, really brave girl and incredibly intelligent and has an amazing sense of humour and a great feeling for life," said Ms Pascarl-Gillespie in a taped interview.

"She is just terrific. She is everything you could hope or imagine that you would have for a daughter."

For Shahirah, it has been a time to enjoy the mother she missed for so long.

"We are trying to make up for all the things we didn't get to do," she said.

"And yeah, it's been great. The first three days we had free of media, yeah, those were beautiful days."

Their story is familiar to many.

Ms Pascarl-Gillespie married Malaysian Prince Raja Bahrin in 1980, and they had two children who were born in Malaysia.

She returned to Australia with the children after the prince took a second wife under Islamic law, but in 1992 he smuggled the children out of Australia during an access visit.

The case became one of the most high-profile custody battles in Australian history and federal authorities tried unsuccessfully to return the children to Australia.

Shahirah said it took some effort to re-establish contact with her mother.

"I got her email (address) from a website and I emailed her," she said.

"It was a bit weird at first because I got an email back from her good friend, who was acting like a filter.

"They gave me a pop quiz of about 10 questions – and only things I would know – or my brother would know, my brother Iddin.

"I got all of them right."

Ms Pascarl-Gillespie said since that initial contact she had secretly rekindled her relationship with both Shahirah and Iddin, 22, via emails and telephone calls.

"I have had contact with Iddin much less frequently, but still for three years, and it was just the three of us that knew about it all this time," she said.

"It was very secretive, it was very private.

"And Iddin, you know, he has been finding his way, as young men often do and he is fabulous to speak to.

"He is really lovely and quite shy and learning about himself, which is just brilliant."

Shahirah said she expected her brother would come to Melbourne to visit his mother as soon as his studies allowed.

"Oh, he will, he will. He actually wanted to come with me," Shahirah said.

"He is a bit jealous now but he is still in the middle of his term and he won't get off until a bit later.

"So he is certainly going to try and come here. Not try, he will come. He will."

In the meantime, mother and daughter have been doing ordinary, family things.

"I got to see my little sister's birthday party and we went to have a picnic at the Botanical Gardens like we always did," said Shahirah.

The tape of the interview was provided by a public relations firm employed by Ms Pascarl-Gillespie, who has pleaded for privacy while she re-establishes contact with her daughter.

Mother meets kidnapped daughter

Bill Crocaris reads a statement on behalf of his wife, Jaqueline Pascarl-Gillespie, and her daughter Shahirah.
Photo: Craig Abraham

By Ben Doherty
April 5, 2006 - 4:37PM

A Melbourne woman who has been reunited with her kidnapped daughter has asked that the media respect their privacy.

Jacqueline Pascarl has met with her daughter Shahirah, 20, who flew into Melbourne over the weekend.

The pair are thought to have spent the morning at Ms Pascarl's Hawthorn home.

Ms Pascarl husband Bill Crocaris read out a statement on behalf of his wife and her daughter to reporters outside their home at 11:20am.

Mr Crocaris refused to answer any questions.

"Jacqueline and her daughter, Shahirah, would like to express their appreciation for your good wishes and support," he said.

"They wish you to know that they are very, very happy, in fact, joyful.

"This is, however, a very private and sensitive time for the family and they ask that you understand and respect the need for restraint and privacy.

"Once again. there will be no further comments or questions at this time."

Her ex-husband, Malaysian Prince Raja Bahrin, who snatched Shahirah and her brother Iddin from their mother on a 1992 access visit and smuggled them out of the country, confirmed his daughter's visit in an interview from Malaysia.

"It's only natural that she wants to visit her mother,'' he was quoted as saying. "She is a big girl now, going to be 21,'' he reportedly said.

"She wants to be with her mother, so what is there for me to say?''

Raja Bahrin said the former couple's son Iddin, now 23, had not yet expressed an interest in visiting his mother.

"Let's take one thing at a time. It's up to the kids so let things take their course. I don't think we should speculate about the future,'' he was quoted as saying.

Ms Pascarl met the Prince at Melbourne University, where he was studying architecture, in the late 70s and they were married in 1980.

Their two children were born in Malaysia. After Shahirah was born, the Prince took a second wife under Islamic law.

Ms Pascarl filed for divorce in the Family Court in 1985, and received custody of the children.

After Raja Bahrin spirited the children out of Australia by boat, the Australian Government and Federal Police intervened in what became one of the highest profile custody battles in Australian history.

The Keating Government sought the extradition of Raja Bahrin for taking the children in violation of a Family Court order.

The Prince later tried to have Ms Pascarl extradited for taking the children out of Malaysia in 1985.

Ms Pascarl, a former ballet dancer, wrote a book about her experiences, Once I Was a Princess, which was published in 1995.

In the book she portrays her ex-husband as a cruel and sexually violent man, who once had her pet goat slaughtered in front of her and forced her to eat the stewed flesh.

theage.com.au, with AAP

Message to mum: it's me

Reunited: Jacqueline Gillespie and her stolen daughter Shahirah, 20, were reunited this week after 14 years.

Shannon McRae
08apr06

JACQUELINE Pascarl secretly exchanged emails and phone calls with daughter Shahirah for three years before their emotional reunion this week.

An elated Ms Pascarl couldn't contain her joy yesterday as she spoke of seeing 20-year-old Shahirah for the first time in 14 years.

"Oh, she is stunning. She is amazing," she said as they held each other.

Shahirah tracked down her mother via the internet a decade after her father grabbed her and her brother from a Melbourne hotel and spirited them to Malaysia.

She used a website for an overseas aid charity her mum worked for.

Ms Pascarl, who was known as Gillespie when her children were taken, initially thought it was a cruel hoax.

Shahirah yesterday revealed she had to pass a quiz to prove her identity to an intermediary before being put in touch with her mother.

"I got an email back from her good friend, who was acting like a filter," Shahirah said.

"So they gave me a pop quiz of about 10 questions - and only things I would know, or my brother would know. I got all of them right."

The pair immediately began making up for the lost years.

"We had a very private relationship for about three years," Ms Pascarl said yesterday.

Her son Iddin, now 23, has also been in secret contact with his mother, and is expected to visit her soon.

"I've had contact with Iddin less frequently over the last three years. It was very secret and private," Ms Pascarl said.

The natural bond between mother and daughter helped Ms Pascarl and Shahirah make up for lost time after their first online meeting.

Shahirah even played a support role during the birth of her half-brother, despite being in another country.

"She was in the delivery room with us on the phone when he was born . . . so she shared that, and we kept that private," Ms Pascarl said.

Shahirah said she was looking forward to spending Easter with her mother and getting some cooking lessons.

"We're trying to make up for the things we didn't get to do. You know, girly stuff," Shahirah said.

She has spent most of the past week bunkered down in Ms Pascarl's Hawthorn home after arriving last Saturday.

But a trip to the Royal Botanic Gardens with her new brother and sister brought back memories.

"I got to see my little sister's birthday party, and we went to have a picnic in the Botanic Gardens like we always did," Shahirah said.

Ms Pascarl was married to journalist Iain Gillespie for 10 years. When the marriage ended, she had a daughter to a Sydney businessman.

She is now married to Hawthorn software manager Bill Crocaris. They have a three-year-old son.

Ms Pascarl yesterday revealed her fear that Shahirah and Iddin might not bond with her after the years apart.

"I was terrified I would not be up to her expectations when she arrived, and I'll go through that again when Iddin arrives," she said.

"You miss all the nuances and them growing up with their personalities . . . everything from smelly runners to basketball games, first loves or exams. We had none of that together."

Her anxiety passed after a few minutes face to face with Shahirah, whom she described as "everything you could hope for in a daughter".

Jacqueline Pascarl married Prince Raja Bahrin in 1980 and their two children were born in Malaysia. She returned with the children after the prince took a second wife under Islamic law, but in 1992 he smuggled them out of Melbourne during an access visit.

Shahirah now plans to divide her time between Australia and Malaysia.

"I've got all these lovely people around me in both countries, and I'd miss all of them, so I really don't want to have to make a choice," she said.

Diana harap Mawi cepatkan perkahwinan

KUALA LUMPUR 5 April - Pelakon Diana Rafar, 24, berharap penyanyi popular Asmawi Ani atau Mawi, 25, mempercepatkan perkahwinan dengan tunangnya, Nurdiana Mohd. Naim bagi mengelak pandangan buruk peminat mengenai gosip hubungan mereka.

Diana berkata, langkah itu jika dilakukan oleh Mawi dapat menutup segala prasangka buruk masyarakat yang menganggap beliau cuba meruntuhkan hubungan antara Mawi dengan Nurdiana.

``Saya berharap mereka akan berkahwin secepat mungkin kerana saya tidak mahu orang ramai menuduh saya cuba merampas Mawi,'' katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia ketika dihubungi di sini hari ini.

Gosip hubungan Mawi dan Diana tercetus apabila mereka berdua dikatakan keluar memancing di Subang Jaya baru-baru ini.

Akibat cerita itu, Mawi mendakwa menerima banyak kiriman Khidmat Pesanan Ringkas (SMS) daripada peminat yang memaki hamun gara-gara gosip cintanya itu.

Bagaimanapun Mawi tidak menafikan kenyataannya memancing dengan Diana Rafar itu adalah benar kerana tidak mahu menipu peminat.

Rentetan daripada kisah itu, bapa Nurdiana - Mohd. Naim Samijan meminta orang ramai menghentikan spekulasi dan gosip liar terhadap bakal menantunya itu demi hubungan baik anaknya dengan Mawi.

Diana berkata beliau tidak mempunyai perasaan cinta terhadap Mawi sebaliknya hubungan mereka seperti rakan artis.

Ditanya bilakah sebenarnya pertemuan pertama mereka, Diana berkata, ia bukan pada hari mereka memancing tetapi semasa Hari Raya Aidilfitri yang lalu ketika Mawi berkunjung ke rumahnya di Shah Alam bersama pengurusnya atas urusan perniagaan.

Selepas itu jelas Diana, Mawi berkunjung ke rumahnya lagi pada majlis hari lahir salah seorang anak saudaranya penghujung tahun lalu.

``Apa yang saya katakan ini adalah benar kerana tidak mahu orang menganggap seolah-olah saya yang mahu rapat dengan Mawi kerana dia bintang popular,'' katanya.

Menurut Diana lagi, akibat tersebarnya gosip itu fikirannya terganggu selain tidak dapat memberi tumpuan terhadap filem Susuk lakonannya yang sedang dalam pembikinan.

Sebagai seorang wanita Diana berkata, beliau memahami perasaan tunang Mawi yang mungkin terguris akibat gosip tersebut dan berharap gadis itu bersabar menempuh dugaan sedemikian.

Fanatik

Dalam masa yang sama, kata Diana, beliau perlu menjelaskan kedudukan yang sebenar bagi memastikan masyarakat serta peminat fanatik Mawi mendapat gambaran jelas mengenai perkara yang berlaku.

``Dengan tersiarnya penjelasan ini, saya berharap keadaan menjadi jernih dan para peminat tidak lagi mengaitkan saya mempunyai hubungan dengan Mawi untuk kebaikan semua pihak,'' katanya.

Sementara itu, Penolong Pengurus Meastro Talent, Along Bakar menjelaskan penyanyi itu enggan menjawab sebarang soalan berhubung gosip tersebut.

Along berkata, Mawi sekarang berada dalam keadaan tertekan apabila kisah hubungannya dengan Diana menjadi bertambah hangat. [UM]

Raja Shahirah bertemu semula ibu kandung

GAMBAR FAIL... Raja Kamarul Bahrin bersama dua anaknya, Raja Mohd Baharuddin dan Raja Shahirah Aishah.

CANBERRA 5 April - Seorang wanita Australia bertemu semula dengan anak perempuannya yang diseludup keluar dari Australia bersama-sama abangnya oleh bapa mereka, seorang anggota kerabat diraja Terengganu pada 1992.

Raja Datuk Kamarul Bahrin Shah mengesahkan kepada akhbar News Ltd. bahawa anak perempuannya, Raja Shahirah, 21, datang ke Melbourne pada hujung minggu lepas untuk menemui ibunya, Jacqueline Pascarl-Gillespie setelah 14 tahun terpisah.

Pertemuan itu merupakan perkembangan terbaru dalam kisah perebutan hak penjagaan anak yang mendapat publisiti meluas di kedua-dua negara.

Bahrin membawa pergi Shahirah dan abangnya, Raja Mohd. Baharuddin (Iddin) dari kediaman bekas isterinya itu semasa beliau dibenarkan mengunjungi mereka di Melbourne pada 1992.

Shahirah yang berusia 7 tahun ketika itu dan Iddin, 9, diseludup keluar dari Australia dengan menaiki bot nelayan.

``Dia mahu bersama dengan ibunya, jadi saya hendak kata apa?,'' kata Raja Bahrin dalam akhbar itu.

``Sudah sewajarnya dia mahu melawat ibunya. Dia sudah dewasa sekarang, bakal mencecah umur 21 tahun,'' ujar beliau.

Raja Bahrin berkata, abang Raja Shahirah yang berusia 23 tahun masih belajar dan belum menyatakan hasrat untuk menemui ibunya.

Kedua-dua pihak tidak dapat dihubungi untuk mengulas mengenai laporan itu.

Keluarga Pascarl-Gillespie mengeluarkan satu kenyataan kepada media di kediaman mereka di Melbourne untuk meminta agar mereka tidak diganggu.

Wanita tersebut merupakan seorang penari balet berusia 17 tahun sewaktu dia bertemu dan jatuh cinta dengan Raja Bahrin, seorang pelajar seni bina di Universiti Melbourne.

Mereka melangsungkan perkahwinan di Terengganu pada Mac 1981.

Gillespie membawa kedua-dua anak balik ke Melbourne untuk menziarahi nenek mereka yang sakit pada 1985, tetapi kemudian memfailkan permohonan cerai di Australia, di mana dia diberi hak penjagaan terhadap anak-anaknya dan Raja Bahrin dibenarkan melawat mereka dari semasa ke semasa.

Dua minggu selepas kanak-kanak itu dibawa balik (diculik menurut pihak Australia) ke Malaysia pada Julai 1992.- AP/UM