KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today described Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's statement that promoting a multicultural Malaysia is unconstitutional as a desperate attempt to be seen and to be relevant.

"The ex-PM (Dr Mahathir) has lost his seat in Langkawi. I don't think we should take him seriously. It is his last desperate attempt to be seen, to be relevant.

"I am going to make him irrelevant, I'm not going to comment on that," he said.

Anwar said this in reply to a question posed by former Malaysian Bar president Christopher Leong about the current outcry by the former prime minister, whom he described has lost his influence following a major failure in the last 15th General Election.

Anwar added being a Malay himself, he respects the Malay culture, tradition, language and the Malay Rulers.

"But that does not make me racist or deny the rights of others. He (Tun M) wants to insist that this is a purely Malay country and denies the rights of others.

"Yes, the Constitution is very clear on the position of the Malays but it is also clear on protecting the welfare of all citizens in this country and the future for all Malaysians," said Anwar.

The prime minister further said he could not understand why some people are still stuck on the issue of who this country belongs to, the Malays or the Chinese or the Christians.

"What's worst, these corrupt leaders were those who have abused power and enriched themselves...They are all billionaires, their children are billionaires.

"If it is true they want to help the Malays, then they should surrender half their wealth to the Malays," he said to spontaneous applause from the audience.

-- BERNAMA