This follows a police report lodged by Loh Siew Hong, who is divorced from her husband, seeking the return of the children, last known to be with her former husband’s family.

Loh had been informed that her children were now in the care of religious authorities in Perlis.

Ramkarpal, who is also the DAP legal bureau chief, said the police must take immediate action to help reunite Loh with her children, as it was in line with a court order to do so.

“I call on the IGP to ensure immediate action is taken to secure the release of the children, from wherever they may be, so that they can be united with their mother again,” he said in a statement today.

He said in granting Loh sole guardianship and custody of her children as part of the divorce proceedings with her former husband, the Kuala Lumpur High Court also ordered the police to take the necessary steps against anyone who prevented uniting the mother with her children.

“If the children are in the care of religious authorities in Perlis, as alleged, there is no doubt they must be allowed to return to their mother by virtue of the said court order and, any refusal to allow this would entitle the police to enter such premises to secure the release of the children,” he said.

Ramkarpal said the matter should be resolved as soon as possible without the need for protracted legal action.

Loh has been separated from her three children – twin girls aged 14 and a boy aged 10 – for three years.

The children were last known to be with her former husband’s family while she was at a women’s shelter after allegedly suffering physical abuse from him.