It is unfair to accuse promoters of ex-deputy premier Muhyiddin Yassin's new party of turning its back on multiculturalism by opening membership only to the bumiputera, said veteran journalist Kadir Jasin.

He said the move is strategic so as to not clash with existing BN opponents, which are multicultural.

This was the result of discussions between promoters of the new party and PKR, DAP, Amanah and PAS, which yielded "positive indications", Kadir said in a blog post.

"Those who come from multiracial parities, principally the PKR and DAP, would not like to see another multiracial party vying for support and, worse still, stealing their members.

"But they were unanimous that the new Malay/bumiputera-based party would play an important role in the existing opposition coalition," said Kadir, who is privy to the discussions.

He added the new party's promoters believe they are exected to provide Malays with an alternative to Umno.

The ultimate goal, he said, is to break BN's hagemony by taking on BN in straight fights in the 14th general election.

This includes cooperation with former Umno veep Shafie Apdal who is organising a new bumiputera-only party under the now dormant Usno.

"Thus it is incorrect to accuse the initiators of the new party of ignoring multiracialism. The new party pledges to give full recognition to multiracialism and political reform while minimising potential conflict with the existing opposition political parties," he said.

The former New Straits Times editor-in-chief last week confirmed that Muhyiddin's party will only be open to bumiputera members.

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad would serve as the party’s chairperson while Muhyiddin, Gabungan Ketua Cawangan Malaysia (GKCM) president Kamarul Azman Habibur Rahman and former Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir will act as the party’s president, secretary and treasurer, respectively, he said.

Other committee members include former Langkawi Wanita Umno leader Anina Saadudin, former Bendang Baru Umno Youth chief Akhramsyah Sanusi and student group Challenger leader Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman, he said.