In helping Loh, I saw only a struggling mother, says activist
Yayasan Chow Kit co-founder Hartini Zainudin started an online fundraiser and successfully collected RM60,000 for single mother Loh Siew Hong.
PETALING JAYA: When Hartini Zainudin decided to help Loh Siew Hong, the woman whose children had been unilaterally converted to Islam, all that she saw was a struggling mother trying to rebuild her family.
Race and religion were never a factor for Haritini, co-founder of the Yayasan Chow Kit shelter, when she publicly backed Loh in her custody case and later launched a donation campaign to help Loh set up a food business.
Loh’s struggle to regain her children divided public opinion along racial and religious lines. Her son and twin daughters were converted to Islam by her former husband without her knowledge or permission.
Hartini said her support for Loh was based on the fact the 34-year-old was a struggling mother.
“I didn’t go in looking at it from any religious or cultural point, she’s just a mum struggling to raise her children whom she hasn’t seen in three years,” she told FMT.
Hartini said that she was just helping Loh get her life back on track.
“I was just trying to help her children get back in school, help raise money for her so that she could drive her food truck, and just be there for her as a woman who is going through a very difficult time, who is a Mummy!”
Loh, her twin daughters, 14, and son, 10, were reunited in February after the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted her application to recover custody of the children.
They had been separated since 2019, when Loh went to live at a government shelter for domestic abuse victims. In their years apart, the children were converted to Islam by their father without Loh’s permission and were looked after by an NGO in Penang.
In March, it was reported that Loh had quit her job as an assistant chef at a hotel in Genting Highlands to be closer to her children and rebuild the family’s life.
Loh said that she intended to start a food truck business so that she could sell meals in different areas.
Hartini then started an online fundraiser and successfully collected RM60,000 for Loh. She also arranged for volunteers to tutor the three children to help them catch up with their studies.
She went on to say that she was not bothered if others saw her actions from a religious standpoint.
“I mean if they’re going to make it religious, please go ahead but that’s not my intention.”
PETALING JAYA: When Hartini Zainudin decided to help Loh Siew Hong, the woman whose children had been unilaterally converted to Islam, all that she saw was a struggling mother trying to rebuild her family.
Race and religion were never a factor for Haritini, co-founder of the Yayasan Chow Kit shelter, when she publicly backed Loh in her custody case and later launched a donation campaign to help Loh set up a food business.
Loh’s struggle to regain her children divided public opinion along racial and religious lines. Her son and twin daughters were converted to Islam by her former husband without her knowledge or permission.
Hartini said her support for Loh was based on the fact the 34-year-old was a struggling mother.
“I didn’t go in looking at it from any religious or cultural point, she’s just a mum struggling to raise her children whom she hasn’t seen in three years,” she told FMT.
Hartini said that she was just helping Loh get her life back on track.
“I was just trying to help her children get back in school, help raise money for her so that she could drive her food truck, and just be there for her as a woman who is going through a very difficult time, who is a Mummy!”
Loh, her twin daughters, 14, and son, 10, were reunited in February after the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted her application to recover custody of the children.
They had been separated since 2019, when Loh went to live at a government shelter for domestic abuse victims. In their years apart, the children were converted to Islam by their father without Loh’s permission and were looked after by an NGO in Penang.
In March, it was reported that Loh had quit her job as an assistant chef at a hotel in Genting Highlands to be closer to her children and rebuild the family’s life.
Loh said that she intended to start a food truck business so that she could sell meals in different areas.
Hartini then started an online fundraiser and successfully collected RM60,000 for Loh. She also arranged for volunteers to tutor the three children to help them catch up with their studies.
She went on to say that she was not bothered if others saw her actions from a religious standpoint.
“I mean if they’re going to make it religious, please go ahead but that’s not my intention.”
A refreshing and positive perspective from a Malay/Muslim.
ReplyDeleteYes, race and religion should never be a factor when help is needed.