PETALING JAYA: Single mother Loh Siew Hong, who was reunited with her three children last week, is planning to start a food business in Klang as a way to save up for their education.

       Currently on unpaid leave as an assistant chef at a hotel in Genting Highlands, she said she is looking for a food truck or a place to set up a stall to kickstart her venture.

       “I’ve always been passionate about cooking. I studied culinary arts at a community college,” said Loh, 35, who added that she had long wanted to run a food truck.

       “I plan to sell economy rice with a mix of Chinese and Indian dishes and also serve ais kacang,” she said yesterday.

       Loh estimated that she would require about RM80,000 to start the business.

       However, her bank loan application was rejected, so she is hoping a Good Samaritan would help her.

       Loh also said she ran an economy rice stall in Sungai Petani, Kedah, which did well, and she believes she can do it again.

       This time, however, she plans to have the business located in Klang so she can be close to family.

       “Business hours would probably be from 7am to 3pm, as I wish to spend the evening with my family.

       “If I can earn enough, I want to send my children to university,” she said.

       Earlier, Wanita MCA chief Datuk Heng Seai Kie said they hoped to help Loh with her venture under the party’s Women Emancipation & Empowerment Agenda (2Es).

       “The tenacious spirit of Loh, who overcame domestic abuse and forced separation from her children, is exemplary for women trapped in a similar predicament.

       “As it is important to move forward, Wanita MCA and Beliawanis MCA exchanged ideas with Loh on strategic planning for the future,” she added.

       Heng said assistance will include application for a micro-credit loan from Kojadi, licensing from the local council and fundraising to enable Loh to secure the capital needed to start her food business.

       During a meeting on Feb 24, Loh also received a RM5,000 cheque from the party.

       The story of Loh and her children – 14-year-old twin girls and 10-year-old son – has made headlines of late.

       Back in 2019, she got a divorce and was granted sole custody of the children by the High Court.

       But subsequently, Loh who was apparently a victim of domestic violence, lost contact with her children for three years.

       Her former husband, an Indian-Muslim convert, took the children to Perlis and arranged for them to be converted to Islam. He has since been arrested for a drug offence and is now in prison in Kelantan.

       Last week, the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed Loh’s habeas corpus application and ordered her children to be released from the Welfare Department’s care and back into her custody.