(The Malaysian Insider) - Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria called today on Malays to defend their race and rights to the land, saying Prophet Muhammad also spoke about his race.

The Perak Mufti said at the launch of former Selangor PAS chief Datuk Hasan Ali’s new Muslim NGO Jati that “it is compulsory for Malays to speak about this as this is a Malay country.”

“Some people say we should not talk about Malays. They call us nationalists. But even the Prophet spoke about his race and tribe,” he said in his speech.

“This land is the right of Malays but today we have lost it. I’m not sure but probably less than 40 per cent belongs to Malays now. We are supposed to have 30 per cent of the economy but only have 17 per cent. Still we are silent,” he said before breaking into tears.

Gombak Setia asemblyman Hasan Ali later said Jati would be “saviours of the faith” by defending Islam, Malay rights and the Malay Rulers, a concept he termed as IMR.

The former Selangor executive councillor told about 300 at the launch of Jati here that the weakened faith of Muslims had led to them being left behind in the economy and plagued by moral and social ills.

But Harussani told the audience that “just forming groups and clapping your hands will get you nowhere.”

He also said that it was incumbent on Malays to defend Islam and the royalty “who first adopted Islam, leading to all Malays becoming Muslims.”

“They cannot be separated from Malays that is why in the constitution the rulers are to protect Malays.”

He added that the many insults that Muslims have endured in Malaysia has led to their faith being shaken.