MIC Youth chief C Sivaraajh today said he "salutes" the 25 eminent Malays who penned an open letter urging Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to show leadership and for speaking up for the moderates.

"They should be praised for their bravery and courage to speak up for all moderates," he added in a statement today.

Sivaraajh said that the moderates were the majority in the country but are silently saluting the courage of those who had spoken out.

"They should be praised and emulated because they speak for all Malaysians, irrespective of race and religion and ethnic background," he said.

He also said attacks on the individuals, who are mostly retired former senior civil servants, by groups such as Perkasa was "unjustifiable".

"This ideology would further divide us instead of uniting us," he added.

In the open letter , the group of former top civil servants, judges, ambassadors and scholars, said in a joint statement that it was time for moderate Malays to speak up, for extremist and immoderate voices do not speak for Malays.

They also called on like-minded moderate Malays and Muslims to speak up for rational and informed discussions on Islam in the country.