"Malaysians suffer from an especially insidious form of suppression because it is perpetrated under the guise of democracy and legality," said Mr Anwar in a letter read to reporters on Wednesday by his 19-year-old daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar.

"While old draconian laws are being enforced with greater severity, new ones are being drafted to squeeze out whatever space remains for freedom," he continued.

Mr Anwar's daughter said she planned to deliver her father's message directly to the 53-nation UN Human Rights Commission, currently holding its annual session. She spoke to journalists at the launch of a report by four lawyers' organisations on Malaysia.

The report -- Justice in Jeopardy: Malaysia 2000 -- was based on a visit to the country by three top judges in April last year, on behalf of the International Bar Association, the Centre for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, the Commonwealth Lawyers' Association and the International Lawyers' Union.

The 143-page report sets out a series of court cases which it says show that the legal system is being manipulated for political ends, including cases where lawyers have been charged with contempt of court or sedition while defending clients.

The report said problems with the independence of lawyers and judges had only arisen since Mahathir came to power in 1981. But speakers declined to say whether they believed Mahathir was directly responsible for the increasing number of cases where judicial rights were denied -- AP