BUKIT Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh urged Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani to ensure single mother Loh Siew Hong gets reunited with her children.
“The police must take immediate action to reunite Loh with her three children, who are alleged to be in the care of Perlis religious authority.
“In granting Loh sole custody of her children as part of her divorce proceedings with her ex-husband, the Kuala Lumpur High Court had ordered the police to take the necessary steps against her ex-husband or any other party for the purpose of uniting Loh with her children, including entering premises in which the children are believed to be in,” he said in a statement.
Two days ago, Loh lodged a police report to seek the return of her children, after she had been informed that they were now in the care of religious authorities in Perlis.
“I want my children back. It has been three years since I was separated from them. So, I plead to those having my children — hand them back to me,” Free Malaysia Today reported her as saying.
Following her divorce last year, the High Court had granted her full custody of her children and instructed the police to recover her children but nothing has been done so far.
On that note, Ramkarpal commended the efforts being made to retrieve Loh’s children, with the police going to Perlis for the said purpose.
However, the DAP leader stressed that the police would be held in contempt of court if they fail to provide the necessary assistance to Loh, a situation which should be avoided.
“It is hoped the matter will be resolved soonest without the need for protracted legal action which will not be in anyone’s interests, particularly that of the young children,” he mentioned.
Religious authorities getting overboard?
On related matter, Penang deputy chief minister II Prof P Ramasamy was flabbergasted on why Loh had to lodge a police report to retrieve her children despite having a court order to support her case.
“Even with the court order, the poor mother had to seek assistance from DAP state assemblyman, Satees Muniandy and Seberang perai City Council (MBSP) councillor, David Marshel to lodge police reports,” he lamented.
While he lauded Acryl Sani’s instruction for the children to be retrieved, Ramasamy asked on what grounds were the religious authorities holding non-Muslim children at their premises.
“Do they operate under different set of laws? Are they so powerful that they can convert minors whimsically, without the approval of their mother?” he queried.
Ramasamy reminded religious authorities that conversion or minors were illegal and they should be mindful of the court order granted in favour of Loh.
“The police must do their job in handing over the children to Loh. They cannot be singing the same old song like in the case of the lost child of Indira Gandhi,” he remarked. – Feb 14, 2022
