KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 22): Influential Malays and civil society organisation G25 Malaysia has called for invalid unilateral conversions of children to be revoked by the relevant religious authorities.

In a statement on Monday (Feb 21), G25 Malaysia said it supports single mother Loh Siew Hong in her plight to get her children back, who were taken from her by her ex-husband who unilaterally converted them to Islam.

On Monday, the High Court of Kuala Lumpur granted Loh a writ of habeas corpus for the immediate release of her children from unlawful detention.

In granting the freedom of the children, Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah reminded the parties concerned that “the court orders should not be treated with impunity”.

G25 Malaysia highlighted that there should be no more debate about the definition or interpretation of the law when it comes to unilateral conversion.

It said this issue was settled in the Federal Court decision in 2018 in the landmark case of Indira Ghandi where the Federal Court ruled that the word “parent” in Article 12(4) of the Federal Constitution means both parents, that is to say both the mother and father of the child; and not just one of the parents, be it the mother or the father.

“This makes any conversion of children without the consents of both parents unconstitutional and invalid.

“To allow this unlawful separation and conversion to continue is a traversity of justice and a violation of our Federal Constitution and the orders of the Courts,” it said.

G25 Malaysia urged the authorities to uphold the Federal Constitution and to respect and abide by the courts’ decision.

It said the authorities must respect Loh’s constitutional and legal rights over her children and have them rightfully returned to her.

“The invalid unilateral conversions of the children must be revoked by the religious authority concerned.

The group also called on the Attorney General, as the independent guardian of public interest, to make a public statement urging parties to obey the Federal Constitution as the supreme law of the nation, as well the decision of the Federal Court and the High Court regarding the matters in contention.

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