THE case of single mother Loh Siew Hong and her struggle to be reunited with her three children after an alleged unilateral conversion is a straightforward matter.
However, the real question here is whether or not the ex-husband Nagahswaran Muniandy can convert his three underaged children without the consent of the mother.
The fact that he could not locate his wife before the conversion and the fact that the children willingly accepted Islam are two different issues altogether.
Those who converted the children must have known in the first place that the conversion of minors without the presence of one’s parents is illegal.
The Federal Court has made it clear in the case of Indira Gandhi that the conversion of her underaged daughter was not acceptable and I daresay that the same applies to the case of Loh’s children.
The willing nature in which the children had willingly accepted Islam as well as the fact that they were thoroughly coached by others do not really apply in the case of minors either.
There is no need to accuse those who supported the reunion of Loh and her children as troublemakers who intended to create religious tensions.
Such allegations are mischievous and were made with the intention of sidestepping the issue of law and whether the children could be rightly converted.
Loh had approached DAP leaders Satees Muniandy and David Marshel to take up her matter.
I just heard about the matter a few days ago and had the pleasure to meet her in my office.
From our conversation it became clear that the mother was not consulted and was kept in the dark about the whereabouts of her children.
She could not contact her children simply because she was admitted to a welfare home after been severely assaulted by her drug addict then-husband.
Back in March 2021, she had even obtained a court order to gain custody of her children.
Don’t let some publicity-hungry individuals turn the question of Loh’s custody of her children into a religious matter.
It should be made clear from the start that this is not about religion but whether minors can be converted without the consent of both parents.
Loh’s habeas corpus application will be heard soon and based on the court’s provision of earlier custody, the decision might be in favour of Loh.
Let me be clear that I would not be intimidated or frightened in taking up the just cause of Loh and those who are threatening me should channel their energies elsewhere.
I will fight for the just cause of any Malaysian irrespective of their ethnicity or religion but unlike some others, I am not an ethnic or religious champion. – Feb 16, 2022
