Umno supreme council member Bung Moktar Radin has likened the 'brooms' that appeared during Bersih 4 to the May 13, 1969 racial riots.

"If the Malays don't come to their senses this is what will happen. Our race will be 'swept away’ by other races," he tweeted.

The tweet was accompanied by a photo of a broom allegedly held up days before the May 13 rally 'to sweep the Malays' following the 1969 general election, shown together with brooms held up by protesters at the recent Bersih 4 demonstration.

The controversial MP's remarks comes hours after inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said some incidents during the rally, such as stepping on a photo of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, could spark racial tension.

Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali has also said the act was racist in nature

'Politicians sowing hatred'

However, Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah castigated the Kinabatangan MP over his remark.

She told Malaysiakini the brooms were brought to symbolise the "cleaning of corruption and the political system".

"Nobody brought brooms with the intention of stoking racism," she said.

"Bung's statement is highly irresponsible because I feel Bersih has made a tremendous achievement during its rallies, by bringing people together as Malaysians.

"These politicians are not reading the ground, they don't understand that it is good for the country and keep dividing people along racial lines.

"They are the ones sowing racial animosity," she stressed.

Following the lack of Malay participation in Bersih 4 and Chinese Malaysians dominating the rally, several quarters have played up the racial factor.

Malaysiakini estimates that about 100,000 people attended the two day rally, with more Malays showing up on the second day.

The rally called for clean and fair elections as well as Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s resignation.

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