Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin revisited his previous controversial remark that he is Malay first and Malaysian second to counter negative perceptions against the ruling coalition.

In his visit to the General Operational Force's (PGA) 4th Battalion in Semenyih today, he brushed off allegations that the Harapan government was anti-Malay and anti-Islam.

The visit comes four days before nomination day for the March 2 Semenyih by-election. It is Muhyiddin's second visit to Semenyih after the by-election date was announced.

"Look at my face, I'm a true Malay. I had once said that (I'm) Malay first and people were angry (at me), but I am nice," he told the 500 members of the force present.

"If anyone wants to spin a sensitive issue and say that Malay rights are vanishing, they (the Malays) will be angry. I will be angry too. I cannot stand (a situation) where the rights of the Malays vanish," he added.

Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu president, said the 16 Malay ministers in the cabinet were true Malays.

"If (anyone) wants to say that we have sacrificed the rights of the Malays, if you are here, come and see me and tell me what has been sacrificed," he added.

"We are not a tool for anyone. Is (Prime Minister Dr( Mahathir (Mohamad) a tool of (DAP veteran) Lim Kit Siang? Impossible," he added.

He said no government could change the status of the Malays and Islam as they were enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

Muhyiddin, who is also Harapan election committee chairperson, denied that DAP controlled the Harapan government.

"I was made the deputy prime minister under the BN administration. Back then some parties were headed by non-Muslims who were Christians in Sabah and Sarawak. Nobody raised whether Umno was their tool,” he pointed out.

PAS and Umno have claimed that Malay rights and the position of Islam have eroded since Harapan came into power.

In 2010, Kit Siang had criticised Muhyiddin over his “Malay first” stand when the latter was deputy premier.

“If Muhyiddin had espoused the view that he is Malay first and Malaysian second in the sixties, seventies, eighties and even nineties, not many would criticize him.

“But for him to remain unchanged even in the year 2010, while the country has undergone over five decades of nation-building, Muhyiddin should not think he could get away with such ultra views so easily,” he added.

The Semenyih constituency comprises 53,520 ordinary voters, 951 early voters and 32 absentee voters.