Amanah said it welcomed the formation of the new Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and looked forward to its debut in the Malaysian political arena.

Amanah communications chief Khalid Samad said although Bersatu is a race-based party, that did not necessarily mean it is also racist.

“Racism is defined as feelings of antagonism towards another race. To love your own race or another is not racism. Racism is when we unite to oppose another racial group.

“Now there is a Malay-bumiputera party that may be able to bring Malay-bumiputera thinking out of Umno’s racial politics.

“Perhaps it is a phase that the Malay political mindset needs to go through – a party that is race-based, but is not racial,” he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Bersatu is led by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as its pro-tem committee chairperson, and former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin as its president.

It has submitted its registration forms for a new political party to the Registrar of Societies on Aug 9, and is awaiting approval.

Bersatu has come under criticism for its two-tier membership system, in which full membership is offered only to bumiputeras, while non-bumiputeras are only offered affiliate memberships.

However, Khalid said membership criteria alone was not what that determined if an organisation was racist or not.

Otherwise, even organisations like the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) and the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) would be branded as racist as well.

He said despite Bersatu’s membership system, the party is a ‘principle-centred’ party that strives to combat corruption and champion the people’s interests.

“We hope (Bersatu) will always keep racial politics at bay. Even if you are to fight for the Malays, do it by developing racism-free Malay politics, and by championing the principles of transparency, justice, welfare, and so on,” he said.

To a question whether Amanah is concerned that Bersatu’s presence would erode Amanah’s support, Amanah secretary-general Mohd Anuar Mohd Tahir appeared unmoved.

“Not at all,” he replied.

Celebrations in Muar

Earlier at the press conference, Mohd Anuar announced the arrangements for celebrating the Amanah’s first year anniversary.

They will take place on Sept 24 in Muar, where the idea to form the PAS splinter party was hatched.

Amanah was launched on Sept 16 last year, in conjunction with Malaysia Day.

Asked what was the party’s greatest achievement thus far, Anuar said it was to prove that even non-Muslims can participate as full-fledged members of an Islamist party, including in the party’s national leadership.

“They play an equal role and position as the Muslim leaders. This is also the case at state and divisional levels.

“There are divisions in places such as Sarawak, where the divisional chief is a Catholic. This for me is the greatest achievement,” he said.

Amanah’s mission statement is to offer a trustworthy, progressive, and caring leadership for Malaysians, and bring prosperity to the country, in accordance to Islamic requirements.

Its approach to non-Muslim members stand in contrast to that of PAS, where its non-Muslim PAS Supporters Wing do not have voting rights in the party, although they have a platform to speak at PAS’ annual muktamar.

Amanah’s two non-Muslim central committee members are Gopalan K Papachan and Hu Pang Chow, who is a former PAS Supporters Wing chief.