“We seek to know the sources and data behind his claim,“ TI-M president Muhammad Mohan said, adding that those who make such misrepresentations should be held accountable by the law.

Muhammad said that appointed officials and all Malaysians should avoid making sweeping statements and “practise an evidence based approach towards understanding and fighting corruption”.

Hadi was quoted as saying at a convention on Saturday that it had reached a point that “these people” (non-Muslims and non-Bumiputeras) ended up controlling the country’s economy and using their money to taint politics, the administration and judiciary.

Utusan Malaysia also quoted him as blaming apathy among Malay voters for causing non-Malays and “liberals” to gain political power in the last general election.

He said it had become PAS’ responsibility to raise awareness among Malays about the importance of taking part in the country’s politics.

In a statement, Muhammad censured Hadi for having a narrow myopic view of corruption.

“Corruption is colour blind and it affects us all,” he said.

He said such comments made in a multiracial, multiethnic and multifaith democracy were “deplorable, racist, slanderous and potentially seditious”.

“They smack of a narrow, myopic view on corruption and provokes feelings which are in direct antithesis with the prime minister’s concept of ‘Keluarga Malaysia’,” he said.

He said that in this month of Merdeka, it was sad and shameful to hear the baseless and provocative comments on eradicating corruption.