Malay, Bumiputera cores vital principles in race unification - Najib

He said this was because these two thrusts, namely Malay and Bumiputera are the main features enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

Najib said under constitution, the Malay language was the official language but other languages were permitted to be spoken freely.

"Islam is also the official religion but other religions are allowed to practised freely and the head of state is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who is elected from among the nine Malay rulers.

"If you accept these principles, then it is easy to go forward...when we want to develop the country, we must develop all races but do not let the Malays and Bumiputera lag behind," he said when closing the National Convention on Race Unification at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) here today.

Also present were Higher Education Miinister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar and UiTM vice chancellor Prof Emeritus Prof Datuk Hassan Said.