SERDANG: The unity government today vehemently condemned the statement made by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who recently questioned the loyalty of the Malaysian Indians and Chinese communities to the country.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim described the remarks made by Dr Mahathir during an interview with Chennai-based Indian satellite television channel as irresponsible for a political figure, who had twice served as the country's prime minister.

The prime minister also believed that Dr Mahathir made the remarks to deviate the attention of the people from ongoing efforts by the present administration to eradicate corruption.

"His statement is irrelevant."

"It is irresponsible for Dr Mahathir to make such a remark especially coming from a former prime minister, who have served the country for quite a long time," he told reporters after launching the Artificial Intelligence Untuk Rakyat programme here today

During an interview with Thanthi TV, Dr Mahathir believed that Malaysian Indians and Chinese are not completely loyal to the country as they still want to identify themselves with their respective countries of origin.

"There are people who consider themselves (as) Indians or Chinese. They do not speak the local language at all.