GEORGE TOWN – The spectre of M. Indira Gandhi’s case lingers as aggrieved mother Loh Siew Hong is desperately trying to see to the return of her three children who are apparently placed under the custody of the Islamic authorities in Perlis.
Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy has joined calls urging authorities to help Loh enforce a custody order issued by the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
He said Loh’s case seems to be a repeat of what happened to the youngest daughter of Perak housewife Indira after she divorced her husband, who converted to Islam.
Similarly, Loh divorced her husband after he allegedly turned abusive towards her.
“If Loh’s children were abducted, converted to Islam and placed under the care of religious authorities in Perlis, this is nothing short of kidnapping.
“Religious conversion of minors without the consent of both parents is against the law. It is unclear whether the children were unilaterally converted. It is for police to ascertain the truth of the matter. They cannot push the matter to the religious authorities in Perlis,” he said in a statement today.
"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
He also implored police to help the mother gain access to her children.
“The case of Indira Gandhi is still vivid in our memory.
“The police in Seberang Prai Utara should not give Loh the runaround. Isn’t this a case of dereliction of duty by police?”
Seberang Prai Utara district police chief Mohd Radzi Ahmad has confirmed that two reports were lodged over a family dispute involving Loh in 2019.
He, however, declined to comment on the matter, saying that investigations are pending.
Meanwhile, PKR’s Indera Kayangan assemblywoman Gan Ay Ling said she is willing to assist Loh in the matter if approached in Perlis.
“We are unsure of what actually transpired but we will help as we understand the mother’s worries.”
She said based on the information made available to her, the children may be under distress, which is why it is difficult to verify what is going on.
Attempts to contact the Perlis religious authorities, including the state mufti Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin were unsuccessful.
Loh made a passionate plea yesterday after she sought the help of Bagan Dalam assemblyman M. Satees and Seberang Prai City Council councillor David Marshel to find her children. – The Vibes, February 13, 2022
Additional reporting by Arulldas Sinnapan
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