(Malaysiakini) - Several Umno veterans including former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today met Perkasa in “near secrecy” to avoid being labelled as racists.

“We cannot talk about Malays. When we talk about Malays, people call us racist so we need to meet in seclusion and almost secretly.

"Unfortunately we talk about freedom of speech and being liberal but we cannot talk about ourselves,” said Mahathir after the closed-door briefing in Putrajaya today.

Among other Umno veterans present were former Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Junid (left), former information minister Zainuddin Maidin (below, right) and former deputy minister Khalid Yunus.

The meeting today, said Mahathir, was intended to discuss the problems plaguing Malay society.

Among other topics discussed was the weakening of the Malay position as it is split into three factions, he said in reference to Umno, PAS and PKR.

Echoing similar sentiments, Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali questioned why DAP and MCA were not criticised for being racist for debating on Chinese issues in public last Sunday.

“When MCA and DAP debate on Chinese issues, no one called them racist, but when we came out with resolutions on the Malay economic situation, we were labelled racist,” he said.

Ibrahim said the briefing was attended by some 250 leaders from the organisation nationwide.

“Those present include the entire national Perkasa leadership, the Wira and Wiranita chiefs, all state chiefs and 99 district chiefs,” he said.