There is no need for a red shirt rally to counter the Bersih 4 protest, said former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"There is no need. This isn't a question about race, it is about overthrowing the government.

"Why need a red T-shirt rally? It is like in Bangkok, yellow T-shirt against the red T-shirt. This is our problem, we can solve it ourselves," Mahathir ( photo ) told reporters outside Subang Airport today.

He was greeted by some 50 supporters, some of whom wore red T-shirts.

However instead of an anti-Bersih slogan, the red shirts were emblazoned with the words "Undur Najib" (Resign, Najib).

The rally on Sept 16, is supposed to counter the allegedly racist and Chinese-dominated Bersih 4 rally.

It has been endorsed by several Umno leaders including Rural and Regional Development minister Ismail Sabri, and Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he will not bar Umno members from participating in the red shirt anti-Bersih protest.

Zahid said the government would not get involved in the rally and that the police would be completely in charge, including in issuing a permit for the rally.

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