FORGET THE ORIGIN COUNTRY, WE ARE MALAYSIANS - FORMER PM

PENANG (Malaysia), Dec 24 (Bernama) -- Everyone in Malaysia have to set a
side their origin country and start calling themself Malaysians for the success
of the 1Malaysia concept, Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.

The former prime minister said they had to put aside their origin country
such as India or China and start calling themself Malaysians.

"They must put aside their origin country and call themself Malaysians for
1Malaysia to be successful," he said during an appreciation dinner with the
Association of Muslim Kadayanallur (Muslim Religious Group) here Wednesday.

Tun Mahathir called on the people to help realise the government's
aspiration of strengthening racial unity and harmony in line with the 1Malaysia
concept.

He said people in Thailand and Indonesia called themself Thais and
Indonesians respectively but this did not happen here.

To a claim that the Indian Muslims in the country had been neglected, he
said they should choose to either become a Muslim or an Indian.

"The country is very liberal and I think they (Indian Muslims) will be
accepted by all if they can pick either to become a Muslim or Indian.".

Tun Mahathir said there was no difference between the various races as
everyone were Malaysians.

"The federal constitution also defined a Muslim very clearly. If they want
to become a Muslim then just follow the constitution."

He said if Indian Muslims in the country still called themself as such,
others might think that they still had links to the origin country.

"The problem of Indian Muslims will be resolved if they can decide and
choose to become either a Muslim or an Indian," he added.

-- BERNAMA