'End race, religion-based political parties, associations'

DAP chairperson Karpal Singh is calling for all race- and religion-based political parties or associations be deregistered or to be opened to everybody, regardless of either criteria.

"The time has come for all racial parties to be deregistered, including PAS unfortunately. We have to be practical if we want a united country.

"It's very dangerous to allow political parties and professional organisations that are based on race or religion," Karpal told a press conference in Penang today.

He was lashing out at the statement by Muslim Lawyers Association president Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar threatening the Bar Council if it supported Catholic newspaper The Herald in relation to the ban on using the word ‘Allah'.

He said the Muslim Lawyers Association should not have been allowed to be registered in the first place, since the Bar Council was open to all lawyers, regardless of their religion.

"Such associations are just troublemakers. The government should not allow them to operate," Karpal said.

- Bernama