Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today told more than 2,000 Umno veterans that they should learn from history and that Umno will no longer condone corruption by its members.

Speaking at a press conference after the 55th anniversary celebrations of Umno and a president-veterans meeting at the Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Mahathir said Umno has to be serious in taking action against those who are found guilty of corruption and bribery by the disciplinary committee.

Mahathir, who likened corruption to gangrene, said that the disease should be stopped early and not be allowed to spread to the whole body.

Despite being asked repeatedly by reporters later what action will be taken on those found guilty, Mahathir evaded the questions, merely saying that Umno will be serious in handling corruption.

Mahathir also refused to reply whether the disciplinary board would be conducting investigations on its own rather than waiting for the cases to be brought to them.

On another issue, Mahathir lambasted Malays who only wanted to gain entry into "easier courses" in universities. He did not elaborate what he meant by "easier courses".

"We can make the bumiputra quota to be 100 percent (for Malays) but what is the point if there is not enough Malays qualified?" said Mahathir.

Earlier, Mahathir gave an hour long history lesson to the Umno veterans by narrating the rise and fall of the Melaka empire in the 16th century. He also spoke of how the British-imposed administration called the Malayan Union jolted Malays into uniting and standing up for their rights.

He said the Malays will once more be colonised for another 450 years if they remain divided.

"We have worked with the Chinese and Indians but we will not sacrifice our Malay rights," said Mahathir, who defined 'Malay' as someone who speaks Malay as their mother tongue, is Muslim and practises the Malay customs.

Migrant communities

Mahathir also took a swipe at opposition party PAS for being willing to work with DAP to get support of the Chinese.

"Before that, they just hate the Chinese and would not even talk to the Chinese. Now they are even willing to meet the pig farm owners," said Mahathir, referring to PAS' repeated spurning of Umno's efforts to hold the Malay unity talks.

On another note, Mahathir also said it does not help when Malays who turn to Umno find the party being led by people who practise bribery and are immoral.

"We will sell off our own race one day if we continue to practice corruption.

"We have only been independent for 43 years and we are already ' gayat ' (dizzy)," said Mahathir, who then mistakenly said Gayat was the title of the book by former minister Megat Junid Megat Ayub.

Megat Junid's book is entitled Getik (nauseated).

In a preceding speech, Umno permanent chairperson Sulaiman Ninam Shah said "migrant communities" who cannot accept the special rights accorded to Malays can return to their original countries.

Sulaiman also claimed Mahathir can be considered one of the founders of the Umno as he was "present" during the formation of the party at the Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kuala Lumpur, in 1946.

"This is the only country we have. Even if we go anywhere else, who is going to accept us?" said Sulaiman.