The Jews and the US laugh and clap their hands looking at Muslims killing each other, said former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

This is the result when Muslims often highlight the differences between one another, he said.

"Muslims kill each other and the ones laughing are the Jews and the United States," he said in his speech at an event organised by the Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) in Shah Alam tonight.

"They laugh because Muslims are doing what they (the Jews and the US) are supposed to do.

"This is what happens when we differentiate between Muslims too much," he said.

Mahathir was commenting on the conflict between Sunnis and the Shi'ites in the Middle East which had often led to bloodshed between the two Islamic branches.

Citing the country's former leaders such as Zainal Abidin Ahmad (Zaa'ba), Burhanuddin Helmy, Onn Jaafar, Zainon Sulaiman, Che Maarof Zakariah and Razak Hussein, Mahathir admitted how they had different views in the fight for the country's independence.

Prioritise aim

"But they were not involved in crime even though they had different views. Humans in general are never in agreement in whatever they do.

"(So) we must accept differences. Even though the aim might be the same, but there will always be differences," he said.

Ultimately, the aim of any fight should be prioritised over any differences.

"If we manage to disregard our differences and focus on the main fight, we will not fight with one another, we will not be like the Middle East.

" Alhamdulillah , although we have different views, there's no chaos here.

"This is why we should remember their (the former leaders') fight. Without them, we would not be free from the British colonisers," he said.