Reverse conversion of Loh’s kids, MP tells religious authorities
Single mother Loh Siew Hong has sent a legal notice to the muallaf (converts) registrar of three states, asking for proof of consent over the conversion of her children.
GEORGE TOWN: Lawyer Ramkarpal Singh urged the Perlis Islamic authorities today to reverse the conversion of three children without their mother’s consent.
The conversion, made two years ago, concerns the three children of Loh Siew Hong, a single mother who was kept away from her children by her former husband.
Ramkarpal, who is also Bukit Gelugor MP, said in 2018 the Federal Court had ruled in the landmark M Indira Gandhi case that consent from both parents was mandatory when it came to the conversion of minors.
He said since the apex court had already decided on the matter, the conversion of Loh’s children should be reversed without the need to go to court.
“The state religious department may have been under the wrong impression that this was a case in which the mother of the children could not be traced.
“But it is clear now that not only did she not consent to the conversion, she had also obtained sole custody and guardianship of the children from the High Court in Kuala Lumpur last year,” he said in a statement.
Penang deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy echoed similar sentiments, saying the law’s position on unilateral conversions was clear.
“As the federal court stipulated in Indira’s case, the consent of both parents are in line with the Constitution of the country.”
Meanwhile, Loh has sent a legal notice to the muallaf (converts) registrars of Penang, Kedah and Perlis, asking for evidence that she had consented to her children’s conversion.
Her lawyer, Shamsher Singh Thind, said the registrars, who are under the state Islamic religious affairs councils, were given seven days from today to reply.
Shamsher said if the councils had no evidence of consent, the registrars should reverse the conversion of the three children.
“And if there is no evidence tendered and no letter issued to confirm the cancellation of the conversion certificates, a judicial review shall be filed,” he told FMT.
Loh lodged a police report over her missing children, only to be told that her children were under the care of the religious authorities in Perlis.
Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin said the conversion was carried out according to the wishes of the children’s father, who is now in a Kelantan prison.
The mufti said Loh’s former husband claimed he did not know the whereabouts of the children’s mother and that the religious authorities merely complied with their father’s wishes.
GEORGE TOWN: Lawyer Ramkarpal Singh urged the Perlis Islamic authorities today to reverse the conversion of three children without their mother’s consent.
The conversion, made two years ago, concerns the three children of Loh Siew Hong, a single mother who was kept away from her children by her former husband.
Ramkarpal, who is also Bukit Gelugor MP, said in 2018 the Federal Court had ruled in the landmark M Indira Gandhi case that consent from both parents was mandatory when it came to the conversion of minors.
He said since the apex court had already decided on the matter, the conversion of Loh’s children should be reversed without the need to go to court.
“The state religious department may have been under the wrong impression that this was a case in which the mother of the children could not be traced.
“But it is clear now that not only did she not consent to the conversion, she had also obtained sole custody and guardianship of the children from the High Court in Kuala Lumpur last year,” he said in a statement.
Penang deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy echoed similar sentiments, saying the law’s position on unilateral conversions was clear.
“As the federal court stipulated in Indira’s case, the consent of both parents are in line with the Constitution of the country.”
Meanwhile, Loh has sent a legal notice to the muallaf (converts) registrars of Penang, Kedah and Perlis, asking for evidence that she had consented to her children’s conversion.
Her lawyer, Shamsher Singh Thind, said the registrars, who are under the state Islamic religious affairs councils, were given seven days from today to reply.
Shamsher said if the councils had no evidence of consent, the registrars should reverse the conversion of the three children.
“And if there is no evidence tendered and no letter issued to confirm the cancellation of the conversion certificates, a judicial review shall be filed,” he told FMT.
Loh lodged a police report over her missing children, only to be told that her children were under the care of the religious authorities in Perlis.
Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin said the conversion was carried out according to the wishes of the children’s father, who is now in a Kelantan prison.
The mufti said Loh’s former husband claimed he did not know the whereabouts of the children’s mother and that the religious authorities merely complied with their father’s wishes.
There is such a thing as an illegal religious conversion, but the Ilsamic authorities do not recognise any conversion as Illegal.
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