Without mentioning names, the Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar launched a broadside on "old people who appear to have lost their mind".

However, it is obvious that the ruler's remarks were aimed at one particular nonagenarian - former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir had courted the sultan's wrath when he disapproved of the Bangsa Johor concept, and Sultan Ibrahim fired another salvo in his speech this afternoon.

"Perhaps there are politicians outside of Johor who are jealous of the Bangsa Johor concept, claiming it causes division (among the people).

"Doesn't the unification of all races under one race create unity? Is it not politics which leads to division (among the people).

"Let us not bother about old people who appear to have lost their mind," he added.

What is important, said Sultan Ibrahim, is for the people of Johor to be proud of being Bangsa Johor who are united and maintained harmony between the different races and religions.

The ruler was speaking at the tea party with 50 Chinese association leaders at the Istana Besar in Johor Baru.

Last month, Sultan Ibrahim said Mahathir was ignorant of Johor's history.

"My great-grandfather Sultan Sir Ibrahim in 1920 made the clarion call Bangsa Johor to unite the various races in Johor under one flag for greater cooperation, harmony and peaceful existence.

"No race or individual was marginalised. He has been proven correct.

"The Bangsa Johor concept was initiated even before Tun Mahathir was born. He has no idea of what he is talking about," he said.

Mahathir had argued that Malaysians could be divided if too much parochialism is practised.