UMNO Supreme Council member, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will not withdraw his remarks claiming that Democratic Action Party (DAP) advisor Lim Kit Siang is a racist.

The Rural and Regional Development Minister also said he was unfazed by Lim's threats of taking legal action against him if he did not apologise.

"He is free to sue me if he wants. This is a democratic country. I (will) keep saying that he (Lim) is the father of all racists in this country.

"In fact, the former prime pinister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad used to call him a racist, too," he told reporters at the 'Ihya Ramadan' programme with leaders in Sungai Panjang, here Thursday.

However, he denied calling Lim an anti-Muslim in his speech before this.

The media had previously reported that Lim would take legal action against Ismail Sabri if he refused to withdraw his remarks.

At the event, Ismail Sabri also handed over aid to 15 orphans and 90 single mothers.