STRASBOURG - The European Parliament called upon Malaysia on Thursday to repeal its Internal Security Act (ISA), saying it was being used to crush political dissent.

"The human rights situation in Malaysia continues to deteriorate rapidly, largely because of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's determination to crush his political rivals," it said in a resolution on Thursday.

It cited reports from the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) and other groups that more than 40 people are being held without charge or trial under the ISA.

At least eight of them, the EU parliament said, were being detained "on grounds of the peaceful expression of their political or religious beliefs."

It called upon Mahathir's government "to abolish the ISA and other laws that allow for detention without trial," and to either free or try persons currently detained under the act.

It also urged the European Commission and the 15 EU member states to link the development of relations with Malaysia to "Malaysia's willingness to pay urgent attention to the observation of universal human rights within its borders."