Malaysians must not allow ethnic nationalism to rise in this country, urged Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low.

"We must never put the country in a state where we have ethnic nationalism, where one ethnic group says it is superior than the other," Low said in his speech at the annual Christian Federation of Malaysia Christmas hi-tea in Kuala Lumpur today.

His remarks come weeks after a controversial Umno annual general assembly.

Umno Youth vice-chief Khairul Azwan Harun had warned that the Chinese community may be further alienated if they continue to support DAP.

Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had also warned that Malay privileges would be eroded should a DAP-led opposition come to power.

Meanwhile Low said the government's National Transformation 2050 (TN50) plan is not just about economic progress but also about how Malaysians engage with each other.

The senator said multiculturalism in Malaysia is fragile and should be safeguarded.

"If we don't engage each other... we won't have cordial relationships. Then we will have problems with whatever plans we have," he said.

Low also called for a return for a liberal values, in the sense of ensuring the right for others to practice their faiths.

The best example for Malaysians to emulate he said, would be Sarawak, where people of all races mingle with each other in peace and harmony.