Loh, 34, is a single mother who recently discovered that her three children were converted to Islam without her consent.

Commenting on the issue, Faiz Fadzil, highlighted how the Federal Court ruled in favour of kindergarten teacher M Indira Gandhi in 2018 that the consent of both parents was needed to convert a minor.

“Since there is already a ruling by the apex court, all parties, individuals and institutions should respect and abide by this decision so that there are no more disputes,” said the Permatang Pasir assemblyman.

Noting how the issue of conversion was a sensitive one, Faiz, who is the son of the late PAS president Fadzil Noor, said it was key that the law must be upheld always.

“Let the law be our guide, not sentiments,” he said.

“We shouldn’t be separating a parent from her children without a valid reason. Islam does not force one to embrace the religion.”

Loh had not met her children for the past three years as she was recovering at a domestic abuse shelter.

She was then also in the process of divorcing her husband and gaining custody of her children, which was granted in December.

She lodged a missing person’s report over the weekend after her children’s whereabouts were unknown, and police later told her that the children were under the care of the religious authorities in Perlis.

While Loh has a court order granting her full custody of her three children, she has allowed her children to be placed under the welfare department’s care temporarily pending a habeas corpus application in the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Feb 21 for the children to be officially handed back to her.