Wan Salim said his comments should not be interpreted as being in in favour or in support of the mother, Loh Siew Hong.

He said that after listening to the explanation given by Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin, he now fully understood the actual facts involved in the issue.

“I apologise if the comments I had made earlier on the issue could be interpreted as being in favour of the child’s mother,” he told FMT.

However, Wan Salim at the same time stressed that the absolute right of a person to exercise the freedom to choose his religion must also be respected.

“i have always believed that we must respect the absolute right of every individual to choose the religion he wishes to follow.

“I also oppose the extreme actions by any party that threaten the freedom of anyone to practise their chosen religion.

“Let a person choose the religion he wishes to adopt without any hindrance because that is a fundamental right guaranteed by the constitution of our country and is consistent with the precepts of Islam,” he said.

Yesterday, during a live broadcast on Facebook, Asri said the conversion of Loh’s three children was legally done in accordance with Perlis state law and cannot be disputed.

He said that under the Perlis Islamic Enactment, either a father, mother or guardian can convert a minor to Islam.

FMT previously reported Wan Salim as saying that the authorities could direct ulamas and muftis to review existing fatwas on the freedom to choose one’s religion, after the Perlis Islamic religious department registered the three children as Muslims without the presence of their mother.

Wan Salim said he also noted that there was pressure from some quarters to increase the age limit of a person in deciding on their religion of choice to the time when they reach puberty.

Loh’s 14-year-old twin daughters and 10-year-old son are in the care of the social welfare department (JKM) in Perlis, while she awaits a habeas corpus hearing at the Kuala Lumpur High Court next Monday.