YOURSAY | Wrong to ‘manipulate’ children in conversion row

[superadmin]

Loh, family need privacy, confidentiality: councillor

GEORGE TOWN – It is time for family privacy following the high court’s decision on Monday granting Loh Siew Hong the sole custody, care and control of her three children.

Loh has switched off her handphone to prevent third parties from contacting her and reminding her of her past, which involves missing her 14-year-old twin daughters and 10-year-old son for the last three years.

Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, when delivering judgement, agreed with Loh’s lawyer A. Srimurugan that respondents in this matter had gone against court orders issued in 2019 and 2021, which granted the single mother full custody of her children.

“By reason of these court orders, I allow the application for the writ of habeas corpus as per Enclosure-1 of the notice of motion.

“The three children are to be released forthwith into the sole custody, care, and control of the applicant,” said Sequerah.

Malaysian Tamilar Kural, a non-governmental organisation that helped and assisted Loh in the tussle to obtain custody of her three children, has agreed that she needs privacy and confidentiality for the time being.

- More -

[superadmin]

Cool it, Mujahid tells ‘champions’ on both sides in Loh’s case

PETALING JAYA: A former religious affairs minister has called for calm over the unilateral conversion case involving the children of single mother Loh Siew Hong, saying all parties should stop trying to be seen as “champions” in the matter.

In a statement, Mujahid Yusof Rawa said the focus must be on harmonising federal and state laws.

He said the religious affairs minister should play a leading role through the Syarak and Civil Law Technical Committee to harmonise the laws.

- More -

[superadmin]

Asri accuses FMT of ‘provocative’ reports over unilateral conversion

PETALING JAYA: Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin has accused FMT and Malaysiakini of publishing “provocative” reports on the unilateral conversion of Loh Siew Hong’s three children.

Asri, however, fails to provide any specific examples of the alleged provocative reports when levelling such claims against the two portals in a video posted on his Facebook page.

Asri, who is popularly known as Dr Maza, says “we know who controls them”, in reference to FMT and Malaysiakini.

He goes on to say that “their news is provocative and touches on sensitive issues. They showed photos of the kids and they are releasing all sorts of news.


“All sorts of news… they want to provoke….”

Asri does not elaborate further.

- More -

[superadmin]

Why are unilateral conversions still an issue in Malaysia?

PETALING JAYA: A single mother, Loh Siew Hong has regained custody of her three children who were converted to Islam without her permission but the issue of unilateral conversions is far from over.

Many observers thought the 2018 Federal Court ruling on the M Indira Gandhi case had settled the issue of unilateral conversions. The apex court had then ruled that the words “parent or guardian” under Article 12 (4) of the Federal Constitution meant both parents or guardians.

The Loh case has reignited a fierce debate on the conversion issue.

Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin defended the conversion of Loh’s children, saying it was in line with the relevant enactment in Perlis that allows for unilateral conversions. Others raised the issue of the discrepancy between the English and Bahasa Malaysia (BM) versions of the Federal Constitution.

- More -

[superadmin]

Nazri says he’s ‘not proud’ of unilateral conversions

PETALING JAYA: Umno’s Nazri Aziz said as a Muslim, he was “not proud” about the controversial unilateral conversions in the country as they were unfair.

Debating the King’s address in the Dewan Rakyat today, the Padang Rengas MP highlighted the case of Loh Siew Hong and M Indira Gandhi — both mothers who had children converted to Islam without their permission.

“As a Muslim, I am not proud of this,” said the former law minister.

“For me, Islam is about being fair. And it’s not fair if one of the parents changes the religion of their child without the other parent’s permission.

“Don’t do to others what you don’t want others to do to you.”

- More -

[superadmin]

Cops call up Ramasamy over ‘provocative’ post on conversion

PETALING JAYA: Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy has been summoned to Bukit Aman this morning (Thursday) to give a statement related to an alleged “provocative” Facebook post which linked Perlis religious authorities to various issues concerning the conversion of Loh Siew Hong’s children.

When contacted, Ramasamy said he would be at the police station with his lawyers at 11am.

“I will definitely cooperate with the police. I have nothing to hide.

- More -

[superadmin]

Probe Asri also for ‘provocative’ remarks on Loh’s case, says Ramasamy

PETALING JAYA: Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy said the police should take action against Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin for allegedly making “provocative” remarks on the conversion of Loh Siew Hong’s children.

“I want the police to take action against Asri, he is the one who inflamed ethnic and religious sentiments,” said Ramasamy outside the Bukit Aman police headquarters today.

He told reporters that Asri was twisting the issue “as if Islam was under siege”.

- More -

[superadmin]

State religious body cannot intervene in custody, says Loh’s lawyer

GEORGE TOWN: The attempt by the Perlis Islamic religious authority to use the court process to be part of the lives of Loh Siew Hong’s children is likely to prove futile.

Loh’s divorce lawyer, Rajashree Suppiah, said under existing laws, a third party cannot seek any court order regarding the children in a divorce proceeding.

Earlier, the Perlis Islamic religious and Malay customs council (MAIPs) revealed that it had applied to intervene in a divorce petition between Loh and her ex-husband, Muhammad Nagahswaran Muniandy.

- More -

[superadmin]

Respect Federal Court ruling, Ramasamy tells Idris after ‘interpretation’ remark

PETALING JAYA: Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy has called on religious affairs minister Idris Ahmad to respect the law after Idris said yesterday the Federal Court ruling requiring consent from both parents in converting a minor to Islam was only an “interpretation” of the Federal Constitution.

Stating that it was “beyond belief” that Idris would describe the apex court ruling as mere “interpretation”, Ramasamy called on the minister “not to skirt around the implications of conflict between federal and state laws”.

- More -

[superadmin]

Ramasamy questions police impartiality in religious cases

PETALING JAYA: Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy has questioned the police about the impartiality of the force in religious conversion cases.

Ramasamy contrasted the action taken by police against himself and a Seberang Perai councillor, and the apparent lack of action on reports against Perlis mufti and an Islamic preacher.

He said Seberang Perai councillor P David Marshel had been summoned to Bukit Aman tomorrow to give a statement about a video he posted concerning the conversion of Loh Siew Hong’s children without her consent.

- More -