Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has advised the Malays not to allow themselves to be exploited by DAP for political purposes.

"We (the Malays) are often challenged because they (DAP) consider us weak... So they try to put us at loggerheads with one another," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Zahid said this when speaking at the Ipoh Timor Umno division annual meet this morning.

He also reminded Umno members to continue supporting and providing assistance to BN component parties.

Zahid also said as the backbone of BN, Umno would always defend the rights of other faiths and races.

Touching on Bersih 4 earlier, the deputy minister said the parties involved mut be aware the rally was illegal under the Peaceful Assembly Act and the regulation took effect from the date of notification in the government gazette.

The 34-hour rally, which kicked off at 2pm yesterday, aims to among others press for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s resignation. It is slated to end at 11.59pm tonight.

The racial composition of the rally became a focal point, when unlike previous protests, there was dismal Malay participation in Bersih 4.

Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia, in its Sunday edition Mingguan Malaysia, stated on its frontpage that DAP dominated Bersih 4.