“Well that ex-prime minister even lost his deposit in Langkawi. Of course (the issue) is being used as a last, desperate attempt to be seen to be relevant.

“I’m going to make him irrelevant, I’m not going to comment on it,” he said during a question-and-answer session at the International Malaysia Law Conference here today.

Mahathir had recently stated that promotion of a multi-ethnic country was against the Federal Constitution.

At today’s Q&A session, former Bar Council president Christopher Leong asked whether Mahathir’s claim had an impact on Malaysia and Malaysians.

Anwar said he will use all the powers and resources at his disposal to deal with the situation and respond to Mahathir’s claim.

“If we fail in this narrative or discourse, (then) we fail as a nation. But I think most of us have to take the position that yes, the constitution is very clear on the position of the Malays.

“The constitution is also very clear to protect the welfare of all citizens in this country. And the future is for all Malaysians,” he said.

He also questioned why such racial sentiments are being played up in this day and age.

“I can’t understand why, in 2023, we are stuck with this (issue). We are not talking about governance, economic advancement or digital technology, (but) we are stuck (with questions like) to whom this country belongs to – the Malays, the Chinese, or the Christians.”