The others - Ganabatirau, Vasanth Kumar, S. Kengadharan and P. Uthaya Kumar - were released before their jail terms ended by Razak as what he called 'a gesture of reconciliation'.

'For his 100th day (as prime minister), he (Razak) should take this important decision to ensure that his 1Malaysia slogan is fulfilled.

'1Malaysia should work, if not it would be just another slogan by another prime minister,' Manoharan said Wednesday after the launching of the Selangor state assembly's 50th anniversary celebrations here.

Manoharan said the status should at least be granted for those born after Aug 31, 1957, Malaysia's Independence Day.

'I am not racist, but I just want the 1Malaysia concept to work,' Manoharan said.

The racial divide and privileges in-built into the country's constitution for the Malays are a sensitive issue in Malaysia.

Majority Malays, who are the indigenous population, an estimated 33 percent Chinese and eight percent Indians are the main ethnic groups in multi-ethnic Malaysia.