“The view that using the walking stick is a mark of honour, is wrong,” he said, addressing hundreds of PPBM delegates at the party’s general assembly, its first formal gathering since winning the May elections.

“In contrast, those who stand straight without using the stick in facing challenges – they are the honourable ones,” the PPBM chairman said.

In his policy speech, he also hit out at Malays who harp on “ketuanan Melayu”, or Malay supremacy.

“Don’t deceive ourselves. Calling ourselves ‘tuan’ does not make us ‘tuan’ if we are still the coolies of others,” he said.

He said Malays can only feel secure if they come out of their economic backwardness.

“So long as we are poor, we will not feel safe. It is not politics, not the power of politics, not political parties that can protect us.

“We have seen how a party that was renowned for its strength, but it is the very same party that placed us in such a vulnerable position,” he said, in an apparent reference to Umno.

Mahathir said if Malays were wealthy and did well in all fields, “no one can threaten us”.

“But how can we be successful, rich and developed? The fact is that we have the abilities. But when we do not utilise our abilities, we cannot succeed.”

He said PPBM “knows how we can succeed, how to save ourselves, Malays and other Bumiputeras”.

“Have faith in us. Believe me, Malays – and only Malays – can save themselves,” he said.

He said history showed that riots and civil wars took place when there were disparities between the haves and have-nots.

“More so, when this is compounded by racial divide, one race that is poorer or richer than another race.

“The combination of these two factors are extremely dangerous. It can result in serious riots. Riots can lead to catastrophe for all Malaysians,” he said.

“It would be irresponsible of us if we do not try to prevent racial riots by at least reducing the wealth gap between the rich and poor,” he added.