'Red shirt' rally not fighting for the Malays - Tun M

He said the Bersih 4 rally held end of last month was not racist as claimed by the Sept 16 rally organisers.

"They are having the rally because they said Bersih 4 was racist in nature. But the Bersih rally was not racist as all races were there," he told reporters after delivering a keynote address at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here.

"They are (the ones) making the Bersih rally racist, to show that they are championing the Malays. They are not championing the Malays, so there is no need for it," he said.

Dr Mahathir added, he prayed nothing untoward would happen at the rally tomorrow.

Yesterday, the rally organisers, National Silat Federation (Pesaka) had been given the green light by KL City Hall to use Padang Merbok to hold the rally, known as Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu.

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had previously advised all rally-goers to obey the rules.

He said with City Hall allowing Padang Merbok to be used as venue, it is hoped that major roads around the city would be left undisturbed by the rally.

Led by Pesaka, Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu is supported by 250 NGOs and is being held in response to the Bersih 4 rally held last month.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has cautioned participants of the rally to avoid bringing any written material including pamphlets or banners that can stir up racial hatred.