The Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Etiquette Council (Maips) seeks to intervene in the divorce proceedings between single mother Low Siew Hong and Muslim convert Muhammad Nagahswaran Muniandy.
The council is seeking locus standi (legal standing) in the divorce proceedings so that it could apply to vary Loh’s custody order over her three unilaterally-converted children.
In a media statement issued today, Maips said it seeks a court order to vary the custody order so that the council could provide Islamic education to the children while being under their non-Muslim mother’s care.
On Feb 21, the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed Loh’s habeas corpus application to be reunited with her three children.
Nagahswaran, who is in jail on drug-related charges, was alleged to have unilaterally converted the children to Islam without Loh’s knowledge and consent.
The single mother obtained full custody of the children in December last year.
Maips today said that it filed the intervener application, through law firm Chambers of Zainul Rijal, at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on March 7.
The council said that if it is allowed by the court to intervene, it would then apply to vary the terms of the custody order and open access for it to give Islamic educational assistance to the three children.
Maips said the assistance would include guidance on Islamic teachings, not limited to the principles of halal and haram food, as well as financial support via zakat and other aid channelled to the children through Loh.
Not seeking to deny Loh’s rights
The council emphasised that it is not seeking to interfere or take any side in the divorce proceedings between Loh and Nagahswaran, as the matter is merely between the estranged couple.
“Maips’ role is merely to ensure the welfare and aqidah (belief) of the muallaf (recent convert to Islam) children are always safeguarded due to their being very committed as Muslims, and so that they would receive needed support and help in terms of finance, education and social-wise.
“Despite being under Loh’s custody, the three children can be seen expressing desire and wish (iktikad dan keazaman) via action and behaviour to remain in Islam, still practising its edicts (Islamic syariat). In fact, several media reports said they perform Subuh (dawn) prayer, and when one of them (children) were asked by a journalist, (the child) replied wanting to be a syarie lawyer upon adulthood.
Maips also said that the current legal bid does not seek to deny Loh’s rights as a mother to her children. Thus, it expressed hope that no quarter would seek to inflame religious or racial hatred sentiments.
The council reiterated that Islam is a religion that puts emphasis on mother-child relations, regardless of her faith.
It was also previously reported that Loh is seeking to file a separate legal bid to nullify the unilateral conversion of her three children. - Mkini
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