Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former Malacca state Chief Minister Ali Rustam have been working the Malay ground feverishly in recent weeks in the run up to this month's party polls.

Speaking in Malacca last Saturday, Zahid, known for his tough stance against gangsters, turned part of his speech into a tirade against the Chinese and Indians, whom he said were involved in gangsterism, which hurt the Malay "victims".

"The largest drug dealers are Chinese, the smaller ones are Indians and the users are Malays," news portal Malaysiakini quoted him as telling an audience of Malay elders. "In Internet gambling, the bosses are Chinese, operators are Indians and patrons are Malays... Therefore the victims are Malays."

He added later: "I think the best way is that we no longer compromise with them (gangsters). There is no need to give them any more warning. If (we) get the evidence, (we) shoot first."

The comments lit up online media sites and while Malaysian politicians are known to tailor their message to the audience before them, the remarks nevertheless shocked many as these were reportedly made in public.

Zahid is widely regarded as a sure winner for vice-president in Umno polls, held every three years. He is popular exactly because of his tough talk on crime. Party members will vote on October 19, with the results known at the end of that Saturday.

Ali is also in the six-way contest for the vice-president post, though it is not clear if he would make the cut.

Speaking at a Malay entrepreneurs function on Monday, Ali claimed that the Chinese were dabbling in illegal businesses which the Malays would not touch.

"We can't have casinos, 4D, Toto, gambling, lottery, massage parlours, ah long. These are all illegal. And the Chinese are the ones dabbling with all the illegal businesses," he said, as quoted by The Malaysian Insider news website.

Zahid and Ali's comments drew swift criticism, though some noted that they were made amid UMNO polls season.

"While it is normal for Umno leaders to blame other races to garner support with their party elections, they really should not be doing that," said Stanley Yong, secretary-general of Chinese-rights group, the KL and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.

He said the government should look at the root cause of crime rather than play the blame game.

Even the Malaysian Chinese Association, part of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition led by UMNO, weighed in. "These are the leaders who had angered and driven away many of our BN traditional supporters irrespective of ethnic background" in the last two elections, said Malaysian Chinese Association publicity bureau chairman Heng Seai Kie.

Bar Council president Christopher Leong said Zahid's comments telling police to shoot first were "shameful and had brought the country into disrepute".

Zahid appeared not to regret his words.

In a response on his Twitter account, he said in Malay: "Where are human rights for the police and victims of robbery, shooting and murder. Why are human rights activists not defending? Human rights only for criminals?"

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