Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki claimed Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub had made the remarks during a closed-door session with voters at SJK (C) Pei Chio Kukup Laut.

He said a video clip of the alleged speech which has gone viral shows Salahuddin saying that the country would be in chaos if Barisan Nasional returned to power, with shootings and arson everywhere.

The former deputy minister said such remarks were against Section 4A (1) of the Election Offences Act which concern the promotion of ill-will and hostility.

“The campaign for the Tanjung Piai by-election should not be an avenue to fan racial sentiments, as done by Pakatan Harapan (PH) on previous campaign trails,” he said in a statement, referring to Human Resources Minister M Kula Segaran in particular.

Kula, when campaigning for PH’s candidate in Rantau, had said he would be embarrassed if the Indian voters did not support Dr Streram Sinnasamy.

The DAP vice-chairman later said his speech was taken out of context.

Asyraf urged the Election Commission to take action against Salahuddin, “even though the offence was committed by a minister”.