Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi defended a decision to detain five Hindraf activists under the ISA as in the interests of public order.

The five leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), pushing for an end to alleged discrimination of ethnic Indians in multi-racial Malaysia, were picked up yesterday and ordered held under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

The controversial law allows for indefinite detention without trial.

"Our action is justified. We have to take action if something undesirable to national security and public safety happens," he was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency late Thursday.

"I am duty-bound to act because the people want the government to take action. The people don't want to see this country in chaos," he said.

Abdullah, who is also the minister responsible for internal security, said national security concerns overrode freedom of expression.

"Between the freedom of expression and public safety, I will give importance to public safety. If you want to speak up, you must follow procedures," he said.

"This is not a nation that shuts the mouth of everyone. The people are not dumb. If we want freedom, we must be responsible. Freedom cannot be given without responsibility."

Anwar's reaction

Opposition parties and human rights groups, who have campaigned for the abolishment of the ISA, slammed the government's actions and the United States has also called for the five detainees to be provided with fair treatment.

Dissident former deputy prime minister and ex-ISA detainee Anwar Ibrahim called for the Hindraf leaders to be produced before a court and dealt with through the legal system.

"They should charge (the Hindraf leaders) in an open court but I have my doubts because in the past, you know, (the government) gives a general statement (on the reason for the detention), arrests them and six months later, forgets about them," he said.

"I think this is a very bad signal to the Indian community," Anwar, who is now in opposition, told reporters.

Anwar was heir apparent to former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad until his sacking in 1998, when he was hit with sodomy and corruption charges that landed him in jail for six years. The sodomy conviction was later overturned but the corruption verdict stands.

According to rights group Suaram, the latest arrests take the number of people detained under ISA to 89. Almost half of those held are alleged Islamic militants.

Hindraf enraged the government last month by mounting a mass rally alleging discrimination in Malaysia, which is dominated by Muslim Malays.

Police used tear gas, water cannons and baton charges to break up the street protest, which drew 30,000 people and came just two weeks after another rare demonstration organised by electoral reform campaigners.