SINGAPORE -- Malaysia's disparate opposition groups have launched a new campaign against a draconian security law in an attempt to prevent Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad from further splitting their ranks.

The opposition -- comprised of the theocratic Islamic Party (PAS), the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party (DAP), the National Justice Party (Keadilan) and the People's Party of Malaysia (PRM) -- have joined forces with several nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to take their campaign overseas.

They are denouncing the government's mounting use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) as not only cruel, but also highhanded.