Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's statement that another May 13 race riot is "not impossible" would not be an offence under the harmony bills if they are passed as law, said National Unity Consultative Council member Mujahid Yusuf Rawa.

He said this is if it was indeed stated as a precaution and  a historical fact.

"It's only when the intention is to incite hatred could (it) be considered a crime," he added.

However, the PAS Parit Buntar MP said that Muhyiddin's statement is "another cliché of Umno's way of expressing concern."

Mujahid ( left ) said if Muhyiddin is truly concerned, then he should be "the first to support" the harmony bills, which among others criminalises bigotry.

Although he did not mention "May 13", Muhyiddin was quoted by Utusan Malaysia as saying that another race riot is " not impossible " due to racial conflict and rising tensions.

This sparked an outcry, including from DAP leaders, who said that the statement was a veiled threat.

However newly-minted ministers Mah Siew Keong and Liow Tiong Lai, who are Gerakan and MCA presidents respectively, brushed it off as a mere reminder.

This was rubbished by civil society leader Ambiga Sreenevasan who said that it is a "pity" that both Mah and Liow "don't have the guts" to condemn Muhyiddin.

Worse still, she tweeted, MIC is completely silent on the matter.

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