KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 — Umno should at least discuss the idea of allowing non-Malays to be members of the Malay party instead of sticking to its old ways of shutting down discussions, party president hopeful Khairy Jamaluddin said today.

Khairy, who is one of the five candidates gunning for the Umno president post, also said the idea of opening up Umno’s membership does not necessarily have to be implemented immediately or even accepted.

He noted that his detractors have used this idea to campaign against him being voted for the Umno top post, but said he was merely floating the idea as various options to be looked into by the party.

"I raised this idea not as a proposal, but as one of the ideas that we have to discuss in the context of how we can revive Barisan Nasional.

"Not necessarily I propose or we discuss that idea, that idea will be accepted today. But why is it that for ideas like that, we only give one answer — cannot, cannot discuss at all,” he said in an interview that was broadcast "live” by television channel Astro Awani.

Khairy also said Umno should celebrate different views, instead of keeping the old party culture of not allowing discussions.

"If they close off their minds, cannot discuss, I feel that insults our members’ ability to think.

"Maybe the majority of the members will not agree, want to remain as a Malay party, that’s alright,” he said, adding that the issue of Umno’s continued existence should be decided by members and at least discussed.

"If there are no discussions, it’s the old Umno... I want to discuss, because I want to see solutions for BN. We are now left with the three original parties of Alliance — Umno, MCA, MIC,” he said.

Following its worst-ever electoral performance in the 14th general elections that saw the 13-member coalition lose federal power for the first time, BN has been reduced to a coalition of three component parties as other partners quit or switched allegiance.

In the same interview, Khairy sought to assure both those who do not want race-based politics and those who want the Malay interests to be looked after.

"About Umno's membership and structure, not necessarily we do it today, but why not we discuss it? In the bigger context and not just Umno, I see that the political discussion today is not just restricted to race politics, but we can discuss more universal issues.

"It doesn't mean we set aside Umno's struggle for the Malays, I think that is fair, no problem, but it must be in context of [a] plural [society], discussion for all,” he said.

Khairy noted that Malaysians no longer want to see race and religion being used, but instead want to see who is fairer and can carry out changes.

"If want to help the Malays, truly help, not just help the cronies,” he said.

Umno's party elections will be held this Saturday.