(AFP) Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today criticised a call by the human rights commission (Suhakam) for greater freedom of expression, saying it ignored national security concerns.

In a report released yesterday, Suhakam proposed setting up British-style "Speakers' Corners" and relaxing controls on rallies.

"Suhakam seems to be setting up standards of their own. They are not interested in national security," Mahathir told a news conference.

"Suhakam is just one group of people but the majority of the people, their interests have to be taken into consideration. They are free to give suggestions but it doesn't mean we have to follow them."

Mahathir said Malaysia already enjoyed greater freedom of expression than in many countries, benefiting opposition groups such as the PAS and DAP.

"We think that in this country there is more freedom than in many other countries, including some of the developed countries," Mahathir said.

"You see so many PAS members, DAP members shouting in parliament. In other countries, they would have been arrested."

'Healthy way'

In its 32-page report, Suhakam urged authorities not to view public assemblies as "intrinsically dangerous" and described them as a "healthy way" to air dissent.

Commissioner Mehrun Siraj has described a police ban on public rallies imposed two weeks ago as an "undue restriction" on free speech and urged the government to prove that such rallies threaten national security.

Mehrun also said the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows detention without trial, had been used to suppress assemblies and that Suhakam viewed any arrests under the draconian law as a violation of human rights.