(AFP) The High Court today ordered 19 members of an Islamic martial arts group which planned a "holy war" to oust Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to present their defence in Malaysia's first treason trial.

The 19 alleged members of Al-Ma'unah are accused of "waging war" against the king, punishable by hanging or imprisonment for life.

Ten group members earlier pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of preparing to wage war and were jailed for 10 years' each.

The martial arts group, which taught members they are invulnerable to bullets, sparked the country's biggest security alert for decades in July when they allegedly disguised as soldiers and stole over 100 weapons from two military armouries.

The group members then allegedly retreated to a jungle hideout where they broadcast calls over army radio for Mahathir to quit. They surrendered following a four-day standoff with some 2,000 troops after allegedly murdering a policeman and a soldier whom they had held hostage.

High Court Justice Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, quoted by Bernama news agency, said today that the prosecution had proven that the 19 defendants were directly involved in mounting a revolt to topple the government by waging war and through violent means.

He ordered the 19, including group leader Mohamed Amin Mohamed Razali, 29, to present their defence.

Mohamed Amin opted to remain silent while the 18 others, aged between 25 and 51, chose to make their defence by testifying from the witness box, Bernama said.

The trial was adjourned to tomorrow to let the defence prepare its case.