The Penang and Selangor governments blacklist firms linked to certain political parties, claims Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

Rahman, who is in charge of the Economic Planning Unit, said so after he was accused of abuse of power for instructing background checks on firms seeking goverment contracts to ensure they are not Bersih sponsors.

"The same practice is rampant in opposition-led states, based on flimsy reasons," Rahman told DAP's Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi.

"I know your boss has a list of companies which he deliberately sidelined just because they are from certain parties by claiming his prerogative rights," Rahman said on Twitter.

He was responding to Ooi, who said Rahman was threatening to abuse his office in a campaign against Bersih.

Rahman also retweeted a post claiming bumiputera F-class contractors are forced out of business after being sidelined by the DAP-led Penang government.

The Penang government is led by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng while the Selangor Menteri Besar is PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.

Ooi: Show the proof

Ooi in response challenged the minister to publish evidence that the Penang and Selangor governments practise similar discrimination.

"Just publish documentary proof if you have on alleged practices in Selangor and Penang. Don't bark. Let public authenticate," Ooi tweeted.

Rahman said the electoral watchdog can hold demonstrations every day if they like but firms that support it cannot seek to offer goods and services to the government.

"Companies cannot agree to topple the government then ask for government contracts!" he tweeted.

He earlier said he will instruct the EPU and the Public-Private Partnership Unit (Ukas) to run background checks on all firms seeking contracts.

"Firms that clearly support illegal rallies are to be blacklisted immediately.

"I am sure there are many eligible firms that can provide comparable, if not better, terms to the government if given the chance.

"The time for tolerance is over. I will boycott any firm supporting a movement to undermine national economic security," Rahman said.

He was heeding Umno-owned Mingguan Malaysia's call for the government to blacklist Bersih's sponsors.

This morning Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng also challenged the minister to name which companies he claimed had been sidelined in the Harapan states for supporting BN.

The DAP parliamentarian in a statement this morning said if Rahman Dahlan cannot furnish the details, he should retract his statement smearing the name of the two state governments run by the federal opposition coalition.