Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday reminded the people not to get trapped by the Islamophobia as drawn up by the West to the point the term made some to be contemptuous of their own race and religion    

The deputy prime minister said the West wanted their mould of Islamophobia to be accepted and embedded in the minds of Muslims to the point it could make them self-destruct.

"They (the West) want us to join their 'Islamophobia' bandwagon, to paint a picture that we Muslims give birth to violence... this impression is given by them.

"In the end, we swallow it and and it is established in our minds to mock our own race, our religion," he said when opening the 17th Malay World Islamic World (DMDI) convention in Bandar Hilir in Malacca last night.

Present were Malacca Yang DiPertua Negeri Mohd Khalil Yaakob, Malacca Chief Minister Idris Haron and DMDI president Mohd Ali Rustam and more than 1,000 delegates from 14 DMDI member nations.

- Bernama