Speaking to FMT, he referred to former Selangor menteri besar Muhammad Muhammad Taib’s move to warn the Malays about the alleged consequences of their loss of political power.

Saifuddin said Muhammad was emphasising the supremacy of the Malays over others in a statement that reflected Umno’s desperation to remain in control in the face of the waning influence of racial politics.

“This is an approach that is not only outdated, but also dangerous and disruptive to our living together peacefully and harmoniously,” he said.

Saifuddin, who resigned from Umno to join PKR in 2015, said people like Muhammad probably did not even realise how ridiculous they sounded because they were too entrenched in the politics of race.

Muhammad, who is often referred to as Mat Taib, said at a press conference yesterday that the future of the Malays, especially those in rural areas, would no longer be protected if they lost their hold on political power.

Muhammad rejoined Umno last month. He had quit the party some time after he was dropped from the Cabinet in a reshuffle in April 2009. He announced in April 2013 that he had joined PAS, but left the Islamist party to join PKR in September 2015.

In his statement yesterday, he said no other race must be allowed to have political control of the country because the Malays were still unable to gain economic power.

Saifuddin said Umno should stop resorting to hate speech and gutter politics and playing the race supremacy card.

“Mat Taib’s statement, with its focus on Malay supremacy, represents a classic example of the practice of politics of race,” he said. “Because this concept is becoming less relevant, they resort to fear mongering.”

He also said the Federal Constitution, although it had provisions on the position of Islam and the Malays, made no mention of race or religion on the issue of political power.

The constitution clearly stated that the prime minister should be someone enjoying the support of the majority of Dewan Rakyat members, he added.