Umno expelled Datuk Zaid Ibrahim on Tuesday for attending opposition gatherings, less than three months after he quit the Cabinet to protest the use of a law allowing detention without trial.

Mr Zaid yesterday went on the attack against Umno, saying he was sacked for speaking too bluntly about sensitive issues. In recent months, he has criticised affirmative action policies for Malays, saying they were discriminatory and failed to inspire cooperation among different racial groups.

Mr Zaid told a news conference: 'Umno has become more ethnocentric...but that is not our role. Umno's role is to be the provider, the one who takes care of everyone, the one who has the trust of all the communities.'

But Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi said yesterday there was nothing unusual about Mr Zaid's sacking.

'The decision has been made; it was a normal decision and it was necessary,' said Datuk Seri Abdullah.

Mr Zaid said some party officials often made racially provocative remarks that could hurt the feelings of the ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.

'We have to do everything possible to maintain good relations, harmony in the country and stability, because there is no economic stability if there is no political or social stability,' he said.

De facto Law Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz rejected Mr Zaid's criticism, saying the government has successfully managed race relations to ensure peace.

ASSOCIATED PRESS