Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was served with a rare Chinese tea, meant for ancient emperors, at the National Day special assembly comprising 120 Chinese organisations today.

The semi-fermented tea, originated from China and a member of the Oolong tea family, is known as 'Red Robe' among tea-lovers.

According to Chinese folklore, the tea became well known after it was said to have saved the life of an ailing emperor.

The ceremony this evening started with the performance of a lion dance, followed by rendition of the national anthem Negaraku.

Another patriotic song, Jalur Gemilang, was then performed by primary students followed by chants of "Hidup Dato Seri!" (Long Live, Dato Seri) by a packed audience.

Mahathir and his wife, Siti Hasmah Ali, were then offered tea by a representative from Chinese guilds Liew Poon Siak and two primary students.

In his opening speech later, Mahathir said he was happy as he "had never been given such an honour by the Chinese community in the past".

"I do understand the meaning of such an honour and I truly appreciate it," said Mahathir, who recently celebrated his 20th anniversary as the country's leader.

Appreaciation scrolls

He said unlike many other multiracial countries, Malaysia has managed to thrive and preserve harmony among different races.

"This achievement was because Malaysians are moderate, hard-working and not extreme," said the premier.

He also said Malaysians should continue to compromise with each other and be willing to sacrifice part of their interests so that other races may get their share of gains in this country.

"This is the land where our blood was spilled (for Independence). Our lives will end here as the way we were born here," he said.

After the speech, Mahathir was presented with tokens of appreciation by the participating Chinese organisations, among others photographs of the Petronas Twin Towers and Chinese scrolls depicting messages of loyalty.

Banners which extolled Mahathir's leadership for the two decades and his 'Vision 2020' were also displayed at the field of Sekolah Menengah Putrajaya where the event took place.

About 2,600 representatives from Chinese organisations nationwide and 230 students from a primary school in Kuala Lumpur were present at the function to voice their support for the premier.

'Certain quarters lambasted'

Earlier, Chinese organisations' representative Ho Sai Chong said in his welcoming speech that unlike before, the Chinese community has now learnt to understand the prime minister's effort in developing the country.

"The patriotism and the readiness to sacrifice a little on our part have helped to overcome our ungratefulness in the past," said Ho, who is the chairperson of Federation of Kwong Siew Associations of Malaysia.

Last year, Mahathir in his National Day speech lambasted certain quarters within Chinese community who behaved like "communists" and "extremists", likening them to the deviant religious group Al-Ma'unah, which was then involved in an arm heist.

The premier specifically targeted Chinese lobby group Suqiu and educationist groups who had made appeals to the government for a "better and more just Malaysia" prior to the general elections in 1999.

Among the appeals were abolishing the distinction between bumiputras and non-bumiputras and to ensure a more independent media and judiciary.