(AFP) Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on today accused supporters of his jailed former deputy Anwar Ibrahim of seeking foreign help to overthrow his government.

The premier said efforts to foment violent protests were foiled when the leader of the country concerned discouraged "any assistance to those planning to incite disorder in Malaysia."

The country was not specified but was apparently Indonesia.

Authorities have ordered six of Anwar's reformasi supporters to be detained without trial for up to two years, alleging that they planned violent street protests to oust Mahathir's administration.

Mahathir, speaking at the annual meeting of his ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno), strongly attacked reformasi supporters and what he called their foreign friends.

Reformasi leaders, he said, had gone abroad to seek help "so that the street violence they planned (in Malaysia) could be implemented."

However, the country's leaders "felt that it was enough that chaos occurred only in their country. They did not want to see chaos spread to Malaysia."

"Therefore they did not encourage any assistance to those planning to incite disorder in Malaysia. Thank God. We appreciate this foreign leader's attitude and stand."

Mahathir acknowledged that the situation in Malaysia "is not flawless" but said people could vote to change the government in regular elections.

Results not appealing

In another apparent reference to Indonesia, he said the results of "reformasi" overseas were not appealing.

"Far from benefiting from the democratic process, what is seen as a result of 'reformasi' is mob rule, a lawless rule by street mobs."

Mahathir took aim at former Umno members who left to join the opposition National Justice Party (Keadilan) after Anwar's jailing.

Without naming Keadilan, he said its members who were once in government failed at the time to complain of lack of democracy and respect for human rights.

"Actually, what frustrates them is not the system of government, but their failure to achieve their big ambitions.

"They like to flatter the whites and are happy if they are praised by these 'Mat Sallehs' (a local term for whites)."

Opponents of the security law which allows detention without trial say it is being used to stifle peaceful dissent to Mahathir's 20-year rule.

Anwar is serving a total of 15 years in prison for abuse of power and sodomy. He says he was framed to avert a political challenge to Mahathir, who denies the allegation.