Newly-minted International Trade and Industry deputy minister Ahmad Maslan has lamented that the Bersih 4 rally was out to hamper his ministry's work in attracting foreign investors.

"Why do you want to make people worry and create a negative perception towards the country's investment environment?

"It is not easy for the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and Malaysian Investment Development Authority to do all kinds of work, particularly in attracting investors for the benefit of the country," he said in a blog posting today.

The overnight Bersih 4 rally will take place on Aug 29 and 30 on the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

It is aimed to protest against scandal-plague Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and also to call for sweeping reforms.

Najib had come under siege for his handling of 1MDB which is struggling to repay its debt and also the deposits of RM2.6 billion into his personal bank accounts.

Ahmad lamented that Bersih 4 - while the English word for ' bersih ' is 'clean' - is being kotor (dirty) for refusing to hold the rally in a stadium.

He urged the authorities to take action against Bersih 4 as there was now threats to hold a counter-Bersih rally.

"Remember the saying that prevention is better than cure," he said.

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