The government has extended for two years the detention of six alleged Muslim militants who have already been held without trial for four years under a draconian security law.

The detainees include Nik Adli, the son of Kelantan chief minister Nik Abdul Aziz of the opposition Islamic party (PAS). They have been detained without trial under the Internal Security Act (ISA) since August 2001.

The Abolish ISA Movement said in a statement it "is extremely annoyed by the extension of the detainees' detention orders."

It named the other five as Ahmad Pozi Darman, Alias Ngah, Solehan Abdul Ghafar, Mohamad Lothfi Ariffin and Zainon Ismail.

Wives informed

The rights group also condemned "the stealth way of the government in extending the detainees' detention orders."

It said it was told of the new detention orders by the wives of the alleged militants over the weekend.

"It is clear that the extension of detention orders of the detainees without trial is an outright cruel injustice and gross human violations on them," the movement said.

Rights groups have urged the government to scrap the legislation but it maintains that detention without trial is needed as a first line of defence against terrorism.

The ISA allows for two-year detention periods without trial, which can be renewed indefinitely.

Malaysia is currently holding over 100 people in detention under the act, more than 80 of whom are described as suspected Islamic militants.