Umno supreme council member Mahdzir Khalid said stern action should be taken against Malaysians who leaked information to outside parties.

Mahdzir, who is Education Minister, said their act could invite foreign intervention into the country's affairs and as such, they should be punished for tarnishing the country's image.

"We do not want outside parties to interfere in the country's affairs, if they do, and we leak information, it would destroy the nation.

"We are talking about the country's sovereignty, nationhood, something which cannot be given up to others.

"We should seek (those who leaked information) and punish them," he said when met by reporters after officially opening the Maran Umno delegates meeting today.

Also present was Deputy Human Resource Minister Ismail Abdul Muttalib, who is the Maran Umno divisional leader.

Mahdzir said Malaysia, as a democratic and sovereign country, did not need foreign intervention to determine its leaders and how it should be administered.

"It is a question of honour, of the country and leadership, the prime minister (Najib Abdul Razak) was elected by the people through a legitimate process, the general election, so as Malaysians we must have the solidarity and strength to support our prime minister," he added.

He also advised the people not to be easily influenced by allegations made against the country leadership, but to remain united and maintain the peace in the country.

The Umno machinery, he said, would go down to the grassroots to brief party members and the people so that they had a clear understanding of the issues.

Mustapa warns of foreign tactics

Meanwhile, in Kota Baru, Malaysians should be wary of various foreign tactics to ruin the country's stability and security, warns International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed.

He said it would be an arduous task to recover from such onslaught fuelled by foreign parties, judging by what had occurred in Iraq, Syria and several other Arab countries.

Up till today, they (those countries) had not been stabilised or achieved peace, he noted.

"We have to be cautious, we have to prevent whatever foreign super power from interfering in our country," Mustapa told reporters after officiating the Malaysia-Thai training and trade mission programme today.

He was asked to comment on a statement yesterday by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak who had asked the people to ensure there was no modern colonisation of the country.

On the IS militant threat, he urged the people not to take security matters lightly as the threat from the group could happen anywhere.

- Bernama