Race-based political parties should be banned as they are structures which impede national unity and integration, said Keadilan today.

"After 45 years of independence, Umno and its component parties such as MCA and MIC continue to use racial issues as a political weapon to garner public support," lamented Keadilan deputy president Abdul Rahman Othman.

"This approach does not differ much from that of the colonialists who adopted the 'segregate and rule' principle ... which instills fear in the people by raising questions of national security."

Abdul Rahman said this at a press conference following the call against racially-based political parties made at the Johor Keadilan Convention last Saturday.

The Keadilan leader said that a ban on such parties would be the only means by which the issues of national security could be finally settled.

"Our proposition is in line with the 'new political culture' advocated by Keadilan, which seeks to foster unity amongst the races based on the principles of fairness.

However, he said that Keadilan would continue to pursue the existing social contract, where affirmative action and the bumiputra status would be maintained.

"We do not want Umno to, on one hand, talk about multi-racial harmony and unity, but yet at the same time, to practice colonial principles which segregate races through the respective political parties," he added.

Serious allegation

On another point, malaysiakini asked Abdul Rahman for his reaction to Chandra Muzaffar's alleged comment that Keadilan leaders practised the concept of 'the ends justify the means'.

"He [Chandra] made a very serious allegation. He was Number Two in the party and he should know well enough the way Keadilan is run, and that we do not just want to win but we make sure that our victory is justified," said Abdul Rahman.

Chandra, who is the president for the International Movement for a Just World (Just), quitted Keadilan last December.