KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): There is yet to be a new judge to preside over Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council's bid (MAIPs) to vary the custody order given to single mother Loh Siew Hong.

Earlier this month, High Court judge Evrol Mariette Peters recused herself from hearing the variation order involving all three of Loh's underage children who were converted to Islam by her ex-husband without her consent.

Danial Farhan Zainul Rijal, who appeared for MAIPs during case management on Wednesday (April 19), confirmed the matter with The Edge when contacted.

Tony Thian appeared for Loh while M Vhimall represented her ex-husband Muhammad Nagahswaran Muniandy.

The court has fixed another case management on May 24.

Separately, the court was also informed on Wednesday that Loh's ex-husband had paid the RM20,000 fine imposed on him for contempt of court.

Peters imposed the fine in early April - in default of two weeks imprisonment - after finding that he had interfered with the administration of justice.

MAIPs had sought to recuse Peters, through a letter to the court dated March 20. The religious body had cited Peters' decision in June last year where she dismissed its leave (permission) application to intervene in Loh's divorce proceedings.

In her ruling, Peters said that the state religious body failed to show that it was an interested party in relation to the three children. 

However, in early February this year, the Court of Appeal (COA) allowed MAIPs' appeal to intervene in Loh's divorce proceedings, making the council a respondent in the matter and paving the way for them to vary the custody order given to Loh.

In its application to vary the order filed on Feb 17, MAIPs is seeking, among others, supervised access to the children twice a week for guidance and basic religious education, and to take them to observe Islamic celebrations.

Loh, who turns 36 this year, filed for divorce in December 2019, and the divorce was finalised in September 2021. In March 2021, she secured a final court order giving her full and sole custody of her children.

Loh is also appealing the appellate court's decision and her leave application hearing has been set for July 6.

Besides this, Loh has also filed a judicial review challenging the unilateral conversion of her children. High Court judge Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh has set May 11 to deliver his decision.

Read also:
Judge recuses herself from hearing MAIPs' bid to vary custody order for single mother Loh
MAIPs seeks to recuse judge in case related to single mum Loh, decision on April 19
July hearing for single mum's leave to appeal against decision allowing MAIPs to intervene in divorce proceedings
Single mother Loh's ex-husband fined RM20,000 for contempt of court