Amira asked Mahathir if he wanted to see Malaysians divided, expressing concern that extremist groups would take advantage of the former prime minister’s remarks.

She also pointed out that this was not Mahathir’s first time disparaging Malaysians, lamenting that the community still needed to defend themselves from his prejudice.

“I believe that Malaysians should not be accused of such things, or have their loyalty to the country dismissed in such a way. We are all loyal to Malaysia.

“The bigger question that needs to be asked is this: does Tun Mahathir want to preserve the country or see her people divided?

“I reject and condemn Mahathir’s remarks. As someone with a Tunship, Mahathir must be more responsible,” the Puteri Wangsa assemblyman said in a statement.

Mahathir’s remarks were made in a recent interview with Thanthi TV, a Tamil news channel based in Chennai, India.

He said Indians in Malaysia must remember they were Malaysians more than they are immigrants from other countries.

He reportedly claimed that Malaysian Indians want to identify themselves with their country of origin but should instead fully assimilate and “become Malay”. While Malaysian Indians had certain rights, “they cannot claim that this country belongs (to them)”.

His comments drew criticism from national unity minister Aaron Ago Dagang and two ex-MPs from DAP, with the former saying a statesman like Mahathir should be helping to foster unity.