Former Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya has urged Malaysians not to bring racial issues to street rallies, warning that it could mean disaster not only for Malaysia but also the Asean region.

While jokingly saying that he felt at home when he heard of the ‘yellow shirt’ Bersih 4 rally and the ‘red shirt’ Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu, he said bringing such issues to the streets could lead Malaysia to the fate of war-torn countries like Syria and Iraq.

“But don’t turn the rallies into an ethnic question. That would be dangerous.