(Sept 14): Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has urged the 'red shirt' rally organiser to change its race-based theme to one fighting corruption.

He said the organiser can even hold the rally in opposition states if the event was about combating corruption.

"If they are fighting corruption, they can come and have the rally in opposition states."

Lim said the organiser should not hold a rally that is racial in nature during the anniversary of the formation of Malaysia, which falls on Wednesday.

"The timing is inappropriate and never before have we ever seen a rally planned with racial undertones.

"We don't know whether this rally is intended to save a race or just a political party," Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, told reporters in Batu Kawan today.

The gathering, “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” dubbed 'red shirt' rally, has been causing concern among leaders of opposition parties and civil groups for the past few weeks.

The police have given the rally the go ahead after Kuala Lumpur City Hall allowed the organiser to use Padang Merbok.

It was reported that the 'red shirt' rally is to counter the recent Bersih 4 rally, which saw protesters dressed in yellow demonstrating against the Barisan Nasional government, demand for reform and the resignation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the financial scandals affecting his administration.

The 'red shirt' rally will also be used as a platform to express anger over incidents during Bersih 4, where some participants stomped on the pictures of Najib and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Last week, Lim said DAP and the Penang government were against the rally and warned Barisan Nasional (BN) party leaders that they must assume responsibility should anything untoward happens during or after the 'red shirt' rally.

Parti Amanah Negara vice-chairman Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa said the rally organiser should just cancel the event while PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the Islamist party has barred its members from taking part.

Najib last week said Umno does not endorse the rally but it will not ban its members from participating. – The Malaysian Insider