KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 ― Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia's rule to only accept non-Bumiputera as limited members did not make it racist, Amanah communications director Khalid Samad argued today.

Defending Pribumi's membership policy, Khalid said a party was only racist if it is "hateful towards other races.”

"Loving your own race isn't racism,” he told reporters during a press conference at Amanah’s headquarters here.

"This is a party based on race, but it is not racist,” he added.

Pribumi was formed earlier this month with former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as its protem chairman and and former Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as its protem president.

The party has yet to be formalised by the Registrar of Societies.

Muhyiddin said that the party which comprises mainly former Umno rebels opposed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, would only open associate memberships to the non-Bumiputera.

"This is probably a phase for the Malay political mindset, to have a party based on race but centred on policy,” he said then.

Khalid argued that if Pribumi is described as racist, organisations such as the Malaysia Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall could be similarly described as such, for practising a similar membership policy.

"This is part of a process to build a Malay politics far from race-based politics,” he added.