(AFP) The government said today it would not scrap a feared security law allowing indefinite detention without trial, saying it was needed to deal with religious zealots.

Abu Zahar Isnin, parliamentary secretary of the home ministry, told parliament that the government was firm in its stand to retain the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Those who opposed the law were free to express their feelings but must abide by it, he said.

"We practise democracy and human rights. If they to want wear badges opposing the ISA on their chest or shoulder, we give them the freedom to do so," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

"We only take action against the extremists... we detain them but even then, we only interrogate."

The government's treatment of ISA detainees was "good and satisfactory" and would not change, he added.

Militant activities

The government last week sent another five people, mostly members of the opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), to detention camp for two years for alleged involvement in militant activities.

They were alleged to be members of the Malaysian Mujahedin Group, which is accused of planning to overthrow the government. A total of 18 alleged members have now been sent to Kemunting detention centre in northern Perak state.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has defended the use of the ISA and other security laws, saying that underground insurgent movements had been defeated by those laws.

But critics accuse the government of using the ISA, originally designed to fight a communist rebellion against British rule half a century ago, to crush political dissent.

Rights groups Suaram said on Sunday the country's human rights situation had worsened this year amid rising arrests under the draconian law, which it called an instrument of state terrorism.

The government last month said it may amend its security laws to deal with "modern-day" terrorism, a move opposition activists fear could lead to a further crackdown on political dissent.