The Malays should set aside their political differences and display a high level of togetherness spirit if they want the unity among the various races in the country to remain strong, said Umno supreme council member Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said the attitude of some Malays themselves who preferred disunity had become a bad example to other races.

“How can we be united with other races if we (the Malays) ourselves are disunited... to continue to remain strong, we must be united to strengthen unity among the various races,” he told reporters after closing the Bera Merdeka Walk 2016 in Bera today.

Ismail Sabri, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said that if the relationship among the Malays continued to be shaky, it would open up opportunities for outsiders to undermine racial harmony in the country through a new form of colonialism.

“Prime Minister (Najib Abdul Razak) once said that the new form of colonialism was not through military occupation but through economic, cultural and mental means. If we are unable to remain steadfast in defending our own identity, we will eventually be colonised,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said action would be taken against students who were being sponsored and received study loans from Majlis Amanah Rakyat if they were found to have participated in the illegal anti-government rally in Kuala Lumpur last Aug 27.

- Bernama