Loh's children don't wish to be Muslims, Maips' bid dismissed

The Kuala Lumpur High Court revealed that the unilaterally converted children of Loh Siew Hong do not wish to be Muslims.

Family civil court judge Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz said this today in dismissing an application by the Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Etiquette Council (Maips) to provide Islamic education to Loh's three unilaterally converted children.

Today's decision was for Maips’ application to vary the custody order granted to Loh so that the Perlis state Islamic body could provide Islamic education to the children - twin daughters aged 15 and an 11-year-old boy.

It was reported that her former husband and Muslim convert Muhammad Nagahswaran Muniandy converted their three children in 2020 without Loh's consent.

During the open-court proceedings, Hayatul said the welfare and interest of the children are not served by allowing Maips access to the kids twice a week for Islamic education.

In her interview with the children on Sept 27, the children informed the judge that they were aware of Maips' bid for supervised access to them and they expressly objected to this.

No choice

Hayatul noted that the children wished to stay with Loh and that problems started when the children's father got involved in drugs and abused Loh.

"They are very happy going to school now and undergoing extra-curricular activities.

"They told me they do not wish to be Muslims,” Hayatul said.

The judge noted that in regard to past media reports of the children allegedly performing Islamic prayers, she said the children said it was because they had no choice.

Hayatul said that the children went through one traumatic incident after another and that parents ought to do right by the children as the parents determine the path that the kids grow up on.

"They (children) should not be made by the legal machinery in order to compel them to do what they do not wish to do,” the judge said, reminding parents to nurture the growth of their children.

"After considering all facts and arguments, I find no merit in Maips' application and dismiss it. No order as to costs,” Hayatul said.

Incidentally, next week on Oct 19, the Court of Appeal is set to hear Loh's appeal to nullify the unilateral conversion of her three children.

The three children are currently under the custody of Loh and residing in the Klang Valley.

‘I am very happy’

When met by the media after this afternoon's family civil court proceedings, Loh broke down in tears in reaction to the verdict.

"I am very happy. I just wish to live in peace with my children.

"I do not wish for them (Maips) to disturb me. I do not want that. Enough.

"I am a mother, I have to think about my children's education. It is my life with my children," Loh said.

On June 15 last year, the Family Civil Court denied Maips' application to intervene in the custody case involving three children.

However, on Feb 7, the Court of Appeal allowed Maips’ appeal to intervene in the custody case so that the state Islamic body would have legal standing to apply to vary the custody order of the three children. The matter then reverted to the High Court which led to today's decision.

Maips seeks a variation of the civil court custody order so that the council could provide Islamic education to the children while being under their non-Muslim mother’s care.

In the divorce petition, Loh, 35, was granted sole custody, care, and control over the children from Muhammad, 35, in 2021.

However, in 2019, it was reported the father took the three children away while Loh was hospitalised with injuries - which she alleged he had inflicted.

It was contended that Muhammad on July 7, 2020, embraced Islam and converted the three children to the faith without Loh's consent.

On Feb 21 last year, Loh’s children, who were under the care of the Social Welfare Department, were released to their mother after the High Court allowed her habeas corpus application.

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