[UPDATED] Woman separated from children appeals to police for court order enforcement

KEPALA BATAS – A 35-year-old mother has appealed to police to help enforce a Kuala Lumpur High Court order that will see the return of her three children, worrying that they may inadvertently be converted to Islam.

Hotel chef Loh Siew Hong is separated from her 14-year-old twin daughters and a 10-year-old son, who are at an Islamic religious school in Perlis.

She lodged a police report at the Seberang Prai Utara district police headquarters in Bertam here, alleging she was given the runaround by police when seeking for them to enforce the court order.

“The Kuala Lumpur High Court handed down an order last March, asking police to make arrangements to bring my children home.

“Initially, they refused to take my report. But after taking the report, police instead told me to go to Perlis to talk to the religious department officers.”

She claimed she was separated from her children in 2019, when her husband assaulted her and she was admitted to hospital with a fractured left leg.

She said she was then put in a home belonging to the Welfare Department, and later moved to the Women’s Centre for Change in Penang.  

Loh held a press conference after lodging a police report. 

Also present were Seberang Prai councillor David Marshel and Bagan Dalam assemblyman M. Satees.

In sharing her plight, she said a woman named Nazirah Nantha Kumari sent her a message via Facebook on January 10, but she had only seen the message nine days later.

She added that she found out that the woman was allegedly from Hidayah Care Foundation.

“Nazirah told me that she knew my kids and they are with her. 

“When I said I wanted to see them, the woman gave me a lot of reasons against the request. However, she sent me several photographs of my children and insisted I talk to her.

“On February 10, I also received a message that my children are kept at a religious school in Tasek Gelugor. I took leave from my work in Genting Highlands and rushed to the school.

“However, they were not there. When I showed photographs of them to neighbours, they said they saw my kids.”

"I have been fighting since 2019, and until now I have not gotten my children back. I want my children back," were the heart-wrenching words of 35-year old Loh Siew Hong who is separated from her 14-year-old twin daughters and a 10-year-old son. pic.twitter.com/JffJsi59jn

— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) February 12, 2022

Loh’s son later informed her that they had been taken to Perlis and shared the location of their whereabouts.

“My daughter called me and cried over the phone asking me to go get them in Perlis. 

“I am worried about their safety, and I fear that they will be converted to Islam as they are underage.

“I never lived a happy life with my husband after we got married in 2008. He continued to assault me and torture me. 

“However, I got my divorce on March 31 last year. Once, he took me and my three children to a jungle near Sg Petani and he threatened to set us on fire in the car.”

She said he is serving a prison sentence in Kelantan for drug-related offences and alleged that he and the children have been converted to Islam.

Meanwhile, Satees said they are going to lodge another report against police, as they are bound to execute the court order and have no right to ask Loh to visit the religious department in Perlis.

“But if nothing works, we will file a habeas corpus at the high court on Monday to seek justice for the mother.”

He expressed his fear that the children will be smuggled into Thailand to prevent their return.

David then questioned why the children were not kept at one of the Welfare Department’s homes.

He said police could end the problem by taking the children into their custody and handing them over to the mother.

Police have yet to comment on the matter. – The Vibes, February 12, 2022