KUALA TERENGGANU: The economy will be in ruins and the country in deep trouble if there is instability caused by racial discord, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said.

He added that racial unity had to be upheld as it was essential to the stability that underpinned economic performance.

"No unity means no political stability, and no political stability means that we are all in trouble. All the races would be in trouble.

"The Malays would be in trouble, the Chinese would be in trouble and the Indians, too, would be in trouble," he said at a dinner organised by the state Social Unity Department late on Saturday.

Najib said that without political stability, confidence in the economy would fall.
"Funds will flow out to other markets if there is instability in our country."

He said in a borderless world, the nation's capital could be moved out at the touch of a button.

"Capital knows no loyalty. It is sensitive to its environment and when under pressure, it will flee. This is the reality of globalisation," he said.

Najib said Malaysia's successes had not been achieved overnight but over many years.

"Some people forget the struggle our forefathers went through to make this country a success story today.

"We must defend this success, and not risk destroying it, for the sake of our future generation.

"We must not take racial harmony and unity for granted. It has taken us a long time to strengthen this racial fabric.

"We met many obstacles along the way and we have persevered so far.

"But it could take just a while to destroy it," he said.

Najib, who is Umno deputy president, is leading the Barisan Nasional in its campaign to retain the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat in a by-election on Jan 17.

Also present were Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said and BN candidate Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh.