Unilateral conversion: Loh tells Maips to leave her alone

Fresh off today's Federal Court ruling which affirmed the non-Muslim status of her three unilaterally converted children, Loh Siew Hong told the Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (Maips) to leave her alone.

The single mother tearfully said her twin girls, 15, and son, 12, have suffered for four years since their father Muhammad Nagahswaran Muniandy converted them to Islam in 2020.

“I do not want Maips to disturb me. Leave me alone. Enough,” the 36-year-old said as her legal team led by lawyer A Srimurugan stood with her at the lobby of the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya.

As she regained her composure, Loh said she was happy with today’s verdict.

She expressed gratitude to the public for supporting the family’s legal battle, adding that her children are fine.

This morning a three-person Federal Court bench chaired by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat unanimously denied leave for Maips and three others to proceed with an appeal to reinstate the Islamic conversion of Loh’s children.

Loh and Muslim convert Nagahswaran entered a civil marriage in 2008, but it broke down over allegations of domestic violence that saw her hospitalised. She filed for divorce in December 2019.

However, while she was recuperating from her injuries in a hospital, it was reported that the father took the three children away and converted them on July 7, 2020.

In March 2021, Loh was granted sole custody, care, and control over the children, and was legally divorced in September of that year.

In February 2022, Loh’s children - who were under the care of the Social Welfare Department - were released to their mother after the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed her habeas corpus application.

The family now resides in the Klang Valley.

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