(AFP) Malaysian lawyers today strongly criticised the arrest of opposition activists under a security law which allows indefinite detention without trial.

The Bar Council, which represents some 9,600 lawyers, said it "notes with distress the continuing use of the ISA (Internal Security Act) to curb the rights of citizens ..."

The council, in a statement signed by chairman Mah Weng Kwai, said it was increasingly difficult to justify the use of the 1960 law since its original purpose was to combat a long-obsolete communist revolt.

Since April 10 police have detained 10 supporters of jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim under the act. Some have been allowed to see families but none has been allowed access to lawyers.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and police chief Norian Mai have justified the ISA arrests on the grounds that Anwar's supporters planned violent protests to topple the government.

No evidence of this has been made public. Opposition parties and rights groups say authorities are using the act to stifle peaceful dissent.

Abolish ISA

The bar council said it recognised the need to safeguard national security but there was no need to detain people without trial, since there were ample laws to deal with such situations.

It called for the act to be abolished.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, which has a legal right to visit detainees, has still been refused access to the 10.

The bar council called for the commission to be granted speedy access.

The ISA allows police to detain someone for 60 days for investigations. The home minister must then decide whether to issue a two-year detention order or release them.

The detention orders can be renewed indefinitely and the power of judges to review them has been removed by amendments to the 1960 act.

Last month, lawyers for five detainees lost a legal bid to challenge their arrest after a high court judge ruled he had no power to intervene.