DAP Youth said it will not work with any political party that practises racist policies, such as the newly-formed Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

It said the party, which is the brainchild of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is doomed to fail in today’s age of progressive politics.

“The racist policies of Bersatu are a product of a bygone political era that should not be in use anymore. Such tactics will be rejected by progressive urban voters.

“And rural voters will not be able to differentiate between Bersatu and Umno and they will not vote for a party formed just to bring down Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak,” DAP Youth political education director Chiong Yoke Kong said in a statement last night.

Chiong condemned Bersatu as continuing the practice of discrimination based on race and skin colour.

He noted that former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, Bersatu’s pro-tem president, had made it clear that non-bumiputera can only be associate members and take up appointed posts.

Muhyiddin had said this after filing the party's registration on Tuesday with several former Umno leaders.

'Clearly practising racial discrimination'

"Efforts to draft non-Malays as associate members and deny them from voting and running in party elections is a form of racial politics," said Chiong.

"A party that segregates its members by race and skin colour is clearly practising racial discrimination."

Chiong said Muhyiddin may think Bersatu does not need diversity as it will contest Umno-held seats.

However, the seemingly racial nature of the party will make it nothing more than an Umno clone, said Chong, adding that it will be rejected by the people who are looking for an alternative.

He said the momentum needed for change will not occur if the people, especially rural Malay voters, have no confidence in the party.

"New political parties that continue to practise racial discrimination will not save Malaysia, but instead will only spread racism in the land," Chiong warned.

Bersatu has received brickbats over its single race composition, though advocates defended the party as being made in that image to allow it to face off against Umno in its Malay majority strongholds.