Respect decision on use of "Bangsa Johor": Salleh

PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should respect the decision on the use of 'Bangsa Johor' and not meddle in Johor's affairs, said Minister of Communications and Multimedia Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak.
"This is not a new thing. We must respect what has been decided. Issues such as these should not be blown up in Malaysia which comprises many races and states.
"It (the use of the term "Bangsa Johor") does not split the people in the country, instead it can unite people of all races," he told reporters at the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Enterprise Business Showcase event here today.
At the 20th Perdana Discourse Series titled "Federal-State Relations in Malaysia" yesterday, in response to a question on "Bangsa Johor" from a member of the audience, the former prime minister said the trend to stress on 'state race" could disrupt unity among the people of Malaysia.
Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin today said the concept of Bangsa Johor was a unique identity which had long been a part of Johor and practised by its people as early as the 1920s when the late Sultan Ibrahim Abu Bakar introduced and used the term.
Meanwhile, Salleh advised the public not to participate in any unhealthy rallies at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur.
"The police will take legal action on the organisers of these unhealthy rallies," he said. — Bernama