(AFP) - Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Saturday his government would act firmly and uncompromisingly in dealing with demonstrations and other forms of pressure.

"The government will not bow to pressure from any group and will take whatever action is necessary and appropriate to defend the right of the majority of the people to live in peace and prosperity," he said.

The government must next week decide the fate of 10 supporters of jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, who were detained in April under a controversial security law allowing indefinite detention without trial.

After a 60-day initial detention, which ends for most of the detainees on June 9, the home (interior) minister must decide whether to release them or issue a two-year detention order - renewable indefinitely.

Mahathir, in a message released by Bernama news agency to mark the king's birthday, said the government would never bow to violence, street demonstrations, pressure and the "dirty tactics" of certain groups which were only championing their own interests.

He was apparently referring to the opposition National Justice Party led by Anwar's wife. Mahathir has previously accused the party of having the sole agenda of freeing his former deputy Anwar.

ISA arrests

Anwar is serving a 15-year jail term for abuse of power and sodomy. He says he was framed to remove a political challenge to Mahathir, a charge which the veteran premier denies.

Anwar has become the focus of opposition to the veteran premier, who will complete 20 years in office next month.

Mahathir made similar comments on law and order before the arrest of the 10 Anwar supporters under the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA).

He and police chief Norian Mai have justified the ISA arrests on the grounds that Anwar's supporters planned violent street demonstrations to topple the government.

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

On Wednesday a High Court judge freed two of the 10 activists, partly on the grounds that police had not explained why they should be detained.

Mahathir, in his message Saturday, said his government should be challenged in elections and not in illegal ways.

Tough laws allow police to declare any form of public gathering illegal.

They have broken up several pro-Anwar protests in recent years.

The premier said that in defending the country from any threat, the government would act firmly without any compromise even though certain groups including foreign governments would feel uneasy.

"...so far the government's action continues to have the support of the majority of the people who love peace," he said.