Stop intimidation against Loh to nullify children's conversion, coalition tells PAS
SITI NURFATIHAH PIRDAUS
SHAH ALAM - A coalition has called on PAS to respect the rights of Hindu mother Loh Siew Hong's to seek justice for her three children’s unilateral religious conversion.
Coalition on Plan of Action for Malaysia said all intimidations against Loh for filing a lawsuit to seek to nullify her three children’s unilateral religious conversion must stop.
This comes after Pas Information Chief, Khairil Nizam Khirudin called politicians, intellectuals, muftis, Islamic preachers, NGOs and Muslims in Malaysia to unite in securing the faith of Loh's children. He had also warned that no one should wish to change the religion of the three children who converted to Islam.
The coalition's acting chair, Stanley Yong Yew Wei further said they were alarmed by an article written by PAS Selangor Secretary Roslan Shahir Mohd Shahi asking whether “the people who advised Loh” wanted another Natrah tragedy to take place.
"He (Roslan) also claimed that the Muslims in Malaysia would not be able to accept a conversion case being challenged in courts as it was sensitive and was sure to create tension," said Yong.
Yong added court judgments have affirmed the constitutional provision that minors’ conversion requires the consent of both parents.
He further said the coalition hopes all parties would refrain from seeing the issue as a "communal contest to determine one’s faith to the extent that both the harmonious inter-ethnic relation and the image of Islam are undermined."
“We believe Malaysians are mature enough to face sensitive matters and disagreements. We urge all Malaysians to respect Loh’s right in bringing the matter to the Court,” he said.
He further said the use of threats to prevent Loh from exercising her lawful right as a parent was interference to the administration of justice and constituted contempt of court.
On Feb 21, High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah granted Loh’s habeas corpus application to regain custody of her three children from preacher Nazirah Nanthakumari Abdullah
She also wants a declaration that her three children who are 10 and 11 years old are Hindus and not Muslims as are legally unable to be converted to Islam without her consent.
