Mother in kids’ conversion saga answers critics over ‘3-year absence’

 

Loh Siew Hong said she lodged numerous police reports between 2017 and 2019 against her ex-husband M Nagahswaran over his alleged abuse.

GEORGE TOWN: A single mother whose three children were converted without her permission has responded to criticisms over her “three-year absence”, alleging that it was due to domestic abuse.

Loh Siew Hong said she lodged numerous police reports between 2017 and 2019 on the injuries sustained allegedly at the hands of her now ex-husband M Nagahswaran during their marriage.

She told FMT that the abuse was so bad at times that she ended up in a hospital twice, including for a fractured wrist and foot in 2017 and a broken ankle joint two years later.

The 34-year-old said on one occasion, she was hit on the head so hard that it led to a gash that required 27 stitches.

In the 2019 incident, Loh alleged she was kicked multiple times and hit with a piece of iron and a hammer.

FMT has contacted the Kuala Muda police chief for updates on her reports.

“Many are asking me where I have been for the past three years. Why was I not around and more,” she said, referring to comments by social media users.

She said one social media user had even uploaded a video denouncing her on a page called “Stand For Nazirah Nantha Kumari,” adding that it appears to be a smear campaign against her.

Nazirah is the woman who runs an Islamic foundation in Bayan Lepas and had been looking after Loh’s twin daughters, aged 14, and 10-year-old son after their father was sent to jail.

“I chose not to say much as I am focused on having my kids back. But I think my silence is allowing more people to slander me. So it’s time I opened up,” Loh said.

She said for the past three years, she has lived in two social welfare department safe houses with each stay lasting two months.

Loh said she was fortunate that an NGO, Women’s Centre for Change (WCC), helped her build her life again, by getting her a job as an assistant chef at a hotel in Genting Highlands.

“With the help of my current job, I was able to save up enough money to pay for my legal fees for a divorce and to obtain custody of my children.”

Loh’s children are currently in the care of the social welfare department, pending a habeas corpus application at the Kuala Lumpur High Court to be heard on Monday to compel the return of her three children. - FMT