The Chinese and Indians have to set aside their respective country of origin and start calling themselves Malaysians for the success of the 1Malaysia concept, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

mahathir cyberjaya lecture 220409 q&a session He called on the people to help realise the government's aspiration of strengthening racial unity and harmony in line with the 1Malaysia concept.

The 84-year-old former premier was speaking at a dinner function organised by the association of Muslim Kadayanallur in Penang

Elaborating, Mahathir said people in Thailand and Indonesia called themselves Thais and Indonesians but this is not the case here.

Muslim or Indian?

To a claim that the Indian Muslims in the country have been neglected, Mahathir 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," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Mahathir said there was no difference between the various races as everyone is a Malaysian.

"The federal constitution also defines a Muslim very clearly. If they want to become a Muslim then just follow the constitution," he added.

The former premier said if Indian Muslims in the country still call themselves as such, others might think that they still have links to their country of origin.

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