The people should not gamble the future of the people merely out of sympathy for an individual.

UMNO Information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the individual was too small compared to the lot of the race, religion and nation.

"The issue in our hands, which is more important, is the future of the nation.

"UMNO has championed the people and this leader must realise he cannot gamble the future of the nation merely because of his personal interests.

"We are performing a societal obligation for defending the government which has ennobled the race, religion and nation," he said in his speech at a talk on current issues at Padang Sera, here last night.

Annuar said the action of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who tried to disturb the national harmony was something difficult for the people to accept.

"The support of the people including myself was undivided when Tun Mahathir was prime minister, but enough, and give space to Datuk Seri Najib (Tun Razak) to administer the country and continue the harmony through this sacred party, UMNO," he said.

He said the party had undergone many ordeals but it was still firm and preserved to shelter the race, religion and country.

In this regard, he hoped Mahathir would come to his senses about his struggle with the opposition and return to the fold.

"I know, deep in his heart, he still loves UMNO. Let's pray he returns to UMNO," he said.

He also hoped UMNO and PAS would find a common ground to develop cooperation for race and religion.

-- BERNAMA