Justice Norsharidah Awang said the search should not be limited to Kelantan but extend across the entire country.

“Do not focus only on Kelantan. (Search) the whole of Malaysia… This case has gone on for many years, and there needs to be more proactive updates,” she said.

The judge made the order while hearing an additional affidavit filed by Indira over the use of BUDI95 and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) benefits by Riduan.

The court summoned police officer Yap Siew Cheng, 44, from the Perak criminal investigation department, over the affidavit.

Asked by Norsharidah whether police had identified the petrol station where Riduan pumped subsidised RON95 petrol, Yap said investigations were ongoing.

Yap also said initial efforts were focused in Kelantan because Riduan’s second wife was from the state, while checks with the state education department previously indicated that his daughter was enrolled in a school there.

She added that police have been carrying out further investigative steps regarding the committal warrant dated May 30, 2014, to locate Riduan, with efforts spanning from Sept 9 to Nov 17.

The court fixed Feb 27 next year for the police to provide further updates.

Riduan had converted the couple’s three children to Islam in 2009 without Indira’s consent and had sought custody through the shariah court.

On Jan 29, 2018, the Federal Court ruled that the conversions were null and void, and the court ordered the inspector-general of police to arrest Riduan for defying the High Court’s directive to return the youngest daughter to her mother.