Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waytha Moorthy declined to entertain queries regarding Dr Mahathir Mohamad describing the minorities as foreigners.

"I don't have to (comment), I don't want to comment," he told reporters in Putrajaya this afternoon.

During the Malay Dignity Congress in Shah Alam on Sunday, the prime minister said the Malays were forced to accept the "orang asing" (foreigners) in order to achieve independence from the British.

Asked if his stand regarding the congress had changed due to the inflammatory remarks by its speakers, Waytha Moorthy said everyone is entitled to hold peaceful gatherings.