Penang police have removed several posters and banners around the island which threaten violence on Bersih 4 protesters.

Northeast district police chief ACP Mior Faridalatrash said the placards and banners were found around Bukit Gelugor and Bukit Dambar today.

He said the posters and banners have seditious messages, adding that he has instructed his men to probe the matter.

One poster had the message ‘ Cina turun Bersih, Sedia Mandi Darah ’ (Chinese Bersih participants, prepare for bloodbath).

Mior warned that those involved in hanging the posters and banners to stop their act or else "stern action will be taken against them".

"We have yet to identify the suspect (s) at the moment. The public are advised to contact the police if they can across such incidents," he said.

"We are probing the case under Sedition Act 1948 for acts with seditious tendencies," he added.

'Related to ISIL?'

In an immediate response, Penang MCA has condemned those who distributed the threatening materials as "hate mongers".

State MCA liaison chief Chew Mei Fun, who is also a party vice-president, urged the police to apprehend the culprits and charge them under the Sedition Act for inciting the public to cause physical harm, injury, and even death for attempting to turn the Bersih rally into a racial conflict.

Chew said the image in the contentious posters resembles the final moments of ISIL victims, just before they are beheaded.

"We want the police to probe if the culprits has any sympathetic leanings towards ISIL since the latter are infamous for dismembering necks of victims in conquered territories, captured security personnel and hostage personalities," said Chew, who is also the women, family and community development deputy minister.

"The culprits should also be probed under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 and the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015.

"Police must use CCTV recordings, DNA samples or any other forms of investigation to the nail the offender(s) and printers before this chilling message is copied in real life and becomes a first in Malaysia," she said in a press statement.

The electoral reform coalition is organising a 34-hour rally at Dataran Merdeka on Saturday and Sunday, which is expected to attract a mammoth crowd.

One of Bersih's controversial demands is to urge Prime Minister Najib Razak to step down and allow investigations into alleged financial scandals involving his pet project, 1MDB and RM2.6 billion "donations" in his private bank accounts to go on.