Why the blog has not been updated ...

I've been busy but who hasn't?

This past week we were helping an NGO - PEMALIK pro-bono or for free.

PEMALIK is an acronym for Pertubuhan Mencegah Alienasi Keibubapaan Kuala Lumpur & Selangor. Doesn't say much does it?

In a nutshell, this is an organisation that champions equal access to children in the event of divorce or separation; and raises awareness on how divorced parents can do whats best for their children in terms of maintaining a strong parent-child relationship.

No, I'm not divorced, but I know many people who are and they often dislike their former partners with a vengeance and miss their kids like crazy.

Usually one parent is given 'custody' which we learnt (attended their forum on Psychological Issues yesterday) is a term loaded with potential power.

Instead PEMALIK would like 'joint responsibility' to be awarded in cases where its a 'no-fault' divorce. Additionally they are lobbying for a change in the family court system and in the way main care of children is awarded - through a panel instead of a single judge.

Here are people (55 of PEMALIK's have been through divorce) who have experienced parental alienation meaning that the parent who received custody turned the children against the parent that did not receive custody.

Here are parents that are fighting to get access to their children, and on the reverse we have parents that dump their newborns. It's a mixed up world we live in...

You can find out more about PEMALIK at www.pemalik.org