PUTRAJAYA – After being apart for more than two years from his daughter, television personality Joey G longs to reunite with his child, who is now residing in Denmark with her mother Patricia Knudsen.
Joey, who was granted full custody of his daughter, said his time with his little one had been robbed since Knudsen allegedly “abducted” the child and fled.
“Shortly before I was awarded full custody of my daughter, my ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend ran to Denmark,” he said when met by The Vibes in front of the Palace of Justice here on Friday.
Noting that Malaysia is not part of the Hague Abduction Convention, as well as Denmark’s stance on the issue, he said it is extremely difficult for the Danish courts to recognise the custody awarded to him.
Joey, whose full name is Joey James Ghazlan, said he has invested all his life savings to have a father-daughter relationship in Malaysia, but to no avail.
In the end, I came out with a piece of (child custody) paper but not my daughter. It is painful and I don’t wish this on anyone.”
After the uphill custody battle, the former Channel [V] video jockey said it has taken a toll on him, emotionally and financially.
However, he is hopeful that he will finally be able to meet his daughter again by the middle of this year.
“I don’t want to remove my daughter from Denmark or take her away from her mother. My goal is for my daughter to have the best of both parents.
With that in mind, I will apply under the access and visitation programme to go to Denmark. I think that is the easiest thing for me to do and it fulfils the relationship I wish to have with my daughter.”
Joey was one of 17 fathers from Fathers’ Rights Association of Malaysia (FRAM) present in front of the Palace of Justice to show solidarity with one of the men, who was appealing against a court decision that only allowed him a 15-minute video call per week with his daughter.
The group advocating for fathers in shared custody and parenting said it will be submitting a reform proposal to amend child custody laws in civil and syariah courts to two ministries by next week.
Its president Malcolm Fernandez said this law reform is vital, as there are many cases where fathers have limited visitation rights, or even worse, denied visitation rights, due to false allegations from their former spouses.
Joey, who was recently appointed as FRAM’s chief liaison officer, said the group hopes for their efforts to be recognised by the government and lawmakers.
“In FRAM, we believe that both parents deserve equal time with the child, which also benefits the child.
“Through the group, we hope to raise awareness on the joint custody system and have the law reviewed. If not changed, then at least reviewed.” – The Vibes, January 10, 2022
