He later discovered that his wife had unilaterally converted their two children, an eight-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy, last month.

Lawyer Honey Tan Lay Ean, for the husband Lee Chang Yong, said he had filed the divorce petition under Section 51 of the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act on May 11 as his wife, Teng Wai Yee, was now a Muslim.

Section 51 states that if any party in a marriage becomes a Muslim, the other party can file for dissolution of the marriage.

Tan declined to comment on the siblings’ religion.

It is understood that the couple had previously filed a joint divorce petition on Dec 17. However, the petition fell apart after the couple could not agree on custody of the children, division of assets and related matters.

The petition and the related orders were set aside when Teng, now known as Aleena Abdullah, embraced Islam on Dec 29 last year.

Lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla, acting for Teng, said Judicial Commissioner Zakiah Kassim had on June 6 granted a consent order for the couple pending divorce.

“The orders made by JC Zakiah are that the upbringing of the two children remains at status quo and the parents cannot influence the children on religion,” he said. “The parents can have the siblings with them for one week, taking turns, and the husband cannot withdraw the latest divorce petition.”

Haniff said the custody hearing will be fixed on August 1 before J C Zakiah.

The court fixed June 26 for the case management of the divorce petition.