Equating Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) cash vouchers with dedak (animal feed) is insulting, said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak last night.

He said other countries also provide financial assistance to their people, but under different names, Bernama reported.

"Some have referred to the policy of giving BR1M as a heinous act and a form of bribery, (just like feeding animals).

"Giving BR1M cannot be equated to feeding animals," Najib was quoted as saying at the 2016 Aidilfitri Malaysia Open House in Bagan Datoh, Perak.

Najib reportedly added that the federal government had allocated RM5.2 billion for BR1M, with Perak alone receiving RM521 million and Bagan Datoh RM14.8 million.

"When the people receive BR1M, we are actually stimulating the local economy because the people will use the money to buy things," he was quoted as saying.

Najib's number one critic, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and those aligned to the former premier, have often accused those supporting the prime minister as having eaten dedak.

This insinuates they have been bought over.

Meanwhile, Najib also reportedly warned that "riots and chaos" would prevent Malaysia from holding festive gatherings.

He said political stability in the country was one of the factors that allowed such celebrations to go on, according to Bernama.

"I urge everyone not to let riots and chaos that have occurred in other countries to happen here in our country to the extent that we cannot hold our festive gatherings," he was quoted as saying.

Bersih previously said another rally may be on the cards, following the US Department of Justice's lawsuits to seize assets allegedly bought with money misappropriated from 1MDB.

But Najib reportedly said last night that peace and security cannot be taken lightly as the country is still not free from security threats such as the Islamic State terrorist group.