 With the cessation of armed communist resistance, formalised through the peace agreement between the Malaysian government and Malayan Communist Party on 2 December 1989, critics argued that the Internal Security Act 1960 was no longer relevant and should be repealed.Under the administration of Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Internal Security Act 1960 has been invoked on a number of occasions to quell dissidents.This has prompted the United States to express concern over the use of the law.