There is "growing discomfort" among non-Muslims over the apparent failure of the civil courts to ensure the equal protection of their interests and legal rights in cases of conversion to Islam, said an inter-religious group.

In a statement, the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHS) referred to several prominent cases, such as that of S Shamala who had failed to reverse her Muslim husband's conversion of their sons.

In a recent case, R Subshini lost her bid to stop her Muslim husband from converting their children to Islam and dissolving their marriage.

After ex-parte proceedings at the Syariah court, Subshini's business husband, Muhammad Shafi Saravanan Abdullah, was granted custody over their three-year-old son, whom he had converted without her knowledge.

Following the High Court's decision not to grant her an injunction, the Court of Appeal in a 2-1 majority decision upheld the ruling and dismissed her appeal.

"It is our duty to inform the authorities that there is growing discomfort among the non-Muslim citizens, who form 45 percent of the population, many of whom feel that the judiciary is failing in its constitutional duty to ensure the equal protection under the law for all Malaysians," said the statement signed by council president Chee Peck Kiat.

"Non-Muslims are unable to obtain relief when the Syariah Court makes an order which interferes with their fundamental liberties guaranteed by the Federal Constitution."

MCCBCHS also voiced concern that the Syariah Court was "usurping functions that are not theirs" in ruling on matters that affect the lives of non-Muslims.

"Consequently, non-Muslims are unable to obtain relief when the Syariah Court makes an order which interferes with their fundamental liberties guaranteed by the Federal Constitution," it said.

MCCBCHS urged premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to fulfill his promise to change the laws to remedy the often-sticky problems arising from the conversion of one spouse to Islam.

In an earlier statement, the Christian Federation of Malaysia had urged elected representatives to do "everything within their means" to safeguard the right of non-Muslims and to find remedy and justice in the civil courts in matters pertaining to civil rights and liberties.

"Decisions like this impact negatively on the social fabric of Malaysia," said executive committee chairperson Bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing.