During his tenure as prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad had little tolerance for street protests or dissent.

Pointing this out, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid criticised the Pakatan Harapan chairperson for endorsing the "Sayangi Malaysia, Hapuskan Kleptorasi" ((Love Malaysia, Destroy Kleptocracy) rally.

"He was the one who opposed rallies when he was prime minister and helmed the Home Ministry. (Now), when he went to the other side, he is organising a rally.

"I am of the opinion that if a man takes different stands (to suit) different times and situations, then this is a man without principles," he told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Zahid said the government would allow the Oct 14 rally if the organiser complied with the conditions under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

Pakatan Harapan has picked Padang Timur in Petaling Jaya as the venue for the rally.

Mahathir, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairperson, had claimed “tens of thousands” are expected to attend the rally.

Zahid, however, claimed BN is unfazed by the rally.

"BN is not threatened (by this rally) because (we have gone through) a few Bersih rallies before. We do not think that the rally will cause the silent majority (rise to reject BN)," he said.

"I hope these silent majority will continue to (support) the ruling government," he said.

Meanwhile, he said his ministry will look into the complaints by the family of Batumalai brothers, who were hanged in March while a clemency petition was pending.

"We will check," Zahid said.

On July 4, the family's lawyer N Surendran questioned if the government had breached the executing Rames, 45, and Suthar, 40, who were both convicted of murder.

He had demanded the government to explain why the brothers were hanged without having their legal process exhausted.