The Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC) call for abolition of the 30 percent bumiputera quota in housing and commercial projects has been labelled a racial statement and Umno has warned the chamber not to "play with fire".

Bukit Mertajam Umno division head Musa Sheikh Fadzir, asked to comment today, said the PCCC should not play with fire.

"Don't stir the hornet's nest. We are only asking for our rights which is 30 percent. We're not asking for 40, 50 or 100 percent (of the share). This is a racial issue, so we're asking them (the chamber) not be extreme," he said.

"(The PCCC shouldn't) get too excited and too impatient. We have never interfered with the Chinese control of the economy in Penang, so why should they (interfere)?"

He claimed that the Chinese who are rich and successful in business, had rights before "but this is our land, our rights, our constitution".

PCCC honorary president Tan Kok Ping had said the chamber would push for the state government to omit the quota requirement in implementing the Penang draft structure plan, now on display for public comments.

"We cannot continue fixing quotas as it would make us less competitive. We have to ensure equal opportunities are given to all, irrespective of race," he was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times today.

Tan said the quota system has been around for a long time and should no longer be rigidly implemented.

"If it is enforced in a rigid way, as is stated in the draft plan, property developers will have a tough time fulfilling the criteria ...they are already facing problems meeting the quota on the island," he explained.

Tan also said the chamber plans to meet the state government soon to discuss the matter.