Umno's brand of race-based politics is self-defeating and will not get the party support, said veteran party leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

"I think we can't continue with race-based politics. For Umno it is self defeating, because you have, say, three million members. But there are more than 60 million voters.

"Umno can never expand if only Malays can join Umno.

"But those organisations which are open to everyone, everybody can join," he said in a press conference today.

The Gua Musang MP said Umno should also stop looking after only its own, and champion everyone.

"There's talk that some leaders are only looking after their own supporters.

"Whereas the Umno that Onn Jaafar founded and Tunku Abdul Rahman inherited, fought for everybody," Razaleigh said.

'We don't need another racial hero'

He also noted that youths are also disenfranchised with the party as they believe Umno is not benefiting them.

Earlier in his speech at the conference 'Our Malaysian Journey: Still In The Making' in Petaling Jaya, Razaleigh noted that the spirit of the bloody May 13 race riots is still alive today.

"It may not be in the form of physical violence, but it is psychological.

"(Hence) what we need now are race bridge builders, not racial heroes," he said, reminding the crowd that unity among races was the foundation of Malaysia's independence.

He added besides better racial ties, there must also be a stronger adherence to good religious values, and called on religious leaders to speak out against what is wrong with the country.