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SHAH ALAM - Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has called on Malays to unite, saying the outcome of the Johor State Election shows that unity can strengthen their political influence.
In a statement, Dr Mahathir said the election proved that Malay unity could restore political strength, even though the current political cooperation has yet to take a clear form.
"The recently concluded Johor State Election has shown that when Malays unite, political strength returns to us.
"Although the form of cooperation is still unclear, we should accept it as a step towards strengthening Malay political power," he said.
The 16th Johor State Election, held last Saturday, saw Barisan Nasional (BN) win 48 of the 56 state seats, while Pakatan Harapan (PH) secured the remaining eight.
Dr Mahathir said the unity he was advocating was not meant to justify wrongdoing or undermine other communities.
Instead, he said it should be used to uphold the dignity of Malays, strengthen Islam and protect the country's sovereignty.
He stressed that stronger Malay political influence should not come at the expense of the rights of other races.
"It gives Malays the confidence to fight for their interests without questioning the rights of other communities.
"This is the approach we have practised since independence and it has helped bring prosperity to Malays and other races alike.
"That is why Malays must unite and strengthen their political power. Only then can we ensure our homeland remains ours," he said.
