Muhyiddin Yassin's announcement that his party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) will only accept bumiputera membership shows it has failed in bringing progressive ideas, said MCA central committee member Ti Lian Ker.

"I guess we cannot depend on these 'old men' to bring the nation forward on a more progressive mode. To them it is all about political revenge and vindictive," Ti said in a statement.

Ti, who is an office bearer in a Chinese-only party, added that Malaysians are "tired of old politics of divide and rule along lines of race and religion".