(The Star) - Barisan Nasional members have been warned not to utter racially sensitive remarks that could cause tension among the people.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, also the Barisan chief, said members were also told to refrain from making statements that could cause friction among component party members.

Najib's advice appears to have been directed at Sri Gading MP Datuk Seri Mohamed Aziz, who made a controversial remark about Bersih co-chairman Datuk S. Ambiga in the Dewan Rakyat recently.

Najib said this after he chaired a Barisan council meeting, attended by all component party leaders, at its headquarters here on Friday.

The meeting, he said, discussed Barisan's recent programmes and activities in all the states.

"We spoke about the encouraging response from the people during visits to the states and districts by myself and the DPM.

“This shows that the people's confidence towards Barisan has been growing steadily," he said, adding that it was just "a routine meeting.”