In 2019, Loh Siew Hong; a Malaysian Hindu of Chinese origin, had her three children taken away by her now ex-husband Nagashwaran Muniandy. A recent convert to Islam; Nagashwaran declared the children as Muslim without Loh’s consent. After a court battle, Loh regained full custody of the children in 2021. Loh’s fight however continued as she sought court to quash the children’s conversion. She also sought help from the courts to stop a government backed Islamic Organisation (MAIPs) gaining access to her children to impart Islamic education, monitor that their diet is halal and to take her son to the mosque. Interviews with the children confirmed they did not wish to be Muslim, were content living with Loh and refused contact with MAIPs. On 11th October 2023, a High Court ruled in Loh’s favour.
Though Loh was successful, human rights organisations report that most incidents such as this go unreported. The Malaysian constitution declares Islam as the state religion and has several policies giving preference to Islam over minority religions such as Hinduism (practised by 6.1% of population). If one parent converts to Islam, the children automatically become Muslim regardless of consent of the other parent who is non-Muslim. In addition to custody and conversion cases such as this, the freedom for Hindus to practise is routinely infringed upon with discretion of temples and the state denying approval to build temples whilst Mosques in the same location are permitted.
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