PAS issues ‘stern warning’ against moves to nullify conversion of Loh’s children

 

Loh Siew Hong wants the High Court to declare that her former husband was legally unfit to convert their children to Islam.

PETALING JAYA: PAS has issued a warning against anyone trying to nullify the conversion of single mother Loh Siew Hong’s three children.

“PAS would like to give a stern warning that no party should or try to change the religion of these children,” its information chief, Khairil Nizam Khirudin, said.

In a statement, he said the children’s conversion to Islam was based on their “understanding, awareness and willingness as free human beings (to be converted) as a result of their Islamic studies and education”.

Khairil said the High Court decision to direct the welfare department to hand the children over to Loh only involved their custody and did not touch on religious issues, let alone order or allow the children to leave Islam.

He urged all politicians, academics, muftis, preachers, NGOs and Muslim Malaysians to unite to safeguard the faith of the 14-year-old twin daughters and 10-year-old boy.

On Friday, Loh, who obtained custody of her three children from the Perlis religious authorities last month, filed an application in the High Court for leave to seek a declaration that her former husband was legally unfit to convert the children to Islam.

She is also asking for a declaration that a provision in the Perlis state enactment that allows for a parent to unilaterally convert minor children is unconstitutional.

She also wants a declaration that her children are of the Hindu faith.

In her judicial review application, filed by Messrs Srimurugan & Co at the High Court registry, Loh said that as minors, the children were legally incapable to embrace Islam without her consent.

She wants an order of certiorari to quash the registration of conversion dated July 7, 2020, issued by the registrar.

She also wants any official registration that her children had embraced Islam to be removed from the records of the authorities.

She named the registrar of mualaf, the Religious and Malay Customs Council of Perlis, state mufti Asri Zainul Abidin and the state government as respondents.

On Feb 21, High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah granted Loh’s habeas corpus application to regain custody of her three children from preacher Nazirah Nanthakumari Abdullah. - FMT