A DIVORCED mother, Loh Siew Hong, 34, has lodged a police report in Kepala Batas, Penang, on February 12, yesterday saying that the religious authorities in Perlis are keeping her three children without her permission.
She received information from a person that her three children, two girls aged 14 (twins) and a boy aged 10 are in the care of the religious authorities in Perlis.
The children were kept in the care of her husband and his mother while she was in a shelter home recovering from abuse. Apparently, she was tortured and abused by her husband.
Subsequently, Loh came out of the home, obtained divorce from her husband and looked for the children. When she contacted her former husband’s mother, the whereabouts about the children were not divulged.
Later a person called Loh to inform that her children were in the care of the religious authorities in Perlis.
Since her children are Hindus, Loh does not rule out the possibility that her husband might have converted them to Islam before placing them in care of the Islamic religious authorities in Perlis.
This seems to be repeat of what happened to the children of Indira Gandhi after she divorced her husband who converted to Islam.
If Loh’s children were abducted, converted to Islam and placed under the care of religious authorities in Perlis, this is nothing short of kidnapping.
A blatant disregard of the law by the Islamic religious authorities in Perlis!
If the above is true, the police must investigate and take action against the religious authorities in Perlis. Conversion of minors of other religions without the consent of both parents are against the law.
Another Indira Gandhi case?
It is not clear whether or not the children were unilaterally converted but it is now for the police to ascertain the truth on the matter. They can’t push the matter to the religious authorities in Perlis.
The case of Indira Gandhi is still vivid in our memory. Bear in mind that the Federal Court struck down the unilateral conversion of her children done by her estranged husband.
However, the police have yet to locate Indira Gandhi’s children.
In the case of Loh, the religious authorities in Perlis overstepped their role by taking the three children and possibly, might have converted them.
The police in Sebarang Perai Utara should not give Loh the run around. Before the police report was lodged with the assistance provided by the DAP state assemblyman, Satees Muniandy and Seberang Jaya City Council (MBSP) councillor, David Marshel, it seems the police told Loh to contact the religious authorities in Perlis.
Isn’t this a case of dereliction of duty by the police? If the children were kidnapped, the police should act. Who are the police protecting on this matter?
I was informed that Loh has hired a lawyer who is about to file habeas corpus application to the court to seek the release of the children, so that they could be reunited with their mother. – Feb 13, 2022.
Main photo credit: Free Malaysia Today
