(AFP) - Human rights and democracy will have to take a back seat in the fight against terrorism after the attacks on the United States, Human Rights Commission chairman Musa Hitam was quoted as saying today.

"I hope people don't misunderstand me but I am nationalistic enough to realise that these matters dealing with security of the country should be given precedence before we start talking about democracy and human rights," said Musa.

He was quoted by the official Bernama news agency as saying that the commission, known by its Malay acronym Suhakam, was not "closing shop or taking it easy" but would give the government the benefit of the doubt.

It would continue conducting investigations into alleged human rights abuses in the country but would be less aggressive, he said.

Critical reports

Suhakam is a government-backed commission, but has in the past issued reports critical of the country's human rights record.

The reports have been dismissed by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who said they ignored national security concerns.

"Over the past one-and-half years that Suhakam had been established, it had not shown bias towards anyone but now when something like this happens we have to compromise," Musa said.

This was not only happening here but also in the US, which now had legislation similar to Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows detention without trial, he said.

In Malaysia, democracy and human rights would not be abandoned totally but put aside for the time being to assist the government in carrying out anti-terrorist activities.

In recent months, the government has used the ISA to detain 15 alleged Islamic militants accused of planning to topple the government.

Many of the detainees are members of the opposition PAS, which says Mahathir is using the ISA simply to stifle political dissent - a charge the government denies.