Mother files habeas corpus to force return of children from Perlis religious dept

GEORGE TOWN – Loh Siew Hong filed a habeas corpus application at the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday to compel the return of her three children into her custody, as she alleges that they are being held illegally by the Perlis Islamic Religious Affairs Department.

Her counsel Shamsher Singh Thind will be seeking for the application to be heard urgently this week as Loh is troubled that her children may go missing the longer she waits.

She has named Nazirah Nanthakumari Abdullah as the respondent and party with custody of the 14-year-old twin girls and the 10-year-old boy.

Shamsher said the mother does not want the repeat of the M. Indira Gandhi saga, with the rightful mother unable to see her child for years.

Meanwhile, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy expressed his disappointment over the 34-year-old’s dilemma despite the high court order made almost a year ago that she be given sole custody over the children.

He said he does not understand why the mother has to make police reports to have her children returned to her custody.

“Last March, the Kuala Lumpur High Court issued an order in favour of Loh to have sole custody over her underaged Hindu children.

“The court had also stipulated that Loh’s former husband, M. Nagahswaran, aged 34, has monthly access to the children and was ordered to pay monthly financial assistance of RM3,000 with a yearly interest of 10 %.”

In a statement, Ramasamy said the court ruled that Nagahswaran had to divide and give 50% of his assets to Loh and the children.

He added that the court had instructed police to give the necessary assistance to Loh, including the use of minimal force to enter premises to enforce the court order. 

“Loh, anxious to be reunited with her children, is being given the runaround by the authorities,” he claimed.

“Even after the court order, Loh had to obtain the assistance of DAP assemblyman M. Satees and Seberang Prai city councillor David Marshel to lodge police reports. I understand that the inspector-general has given instructions to locate the children.” – The Vibes, February 14, 2022