(Malaysiakini) Even as Umno and BN leaders distance themselves from Malay rights pressure group Perkasa, Malay-language daily Utusan Malaysia continues to support the group.
In today's edition, the Umno-owned broadsheet devoted an entire page to an assortment of stories defending the NGO, including a poll headlined 'Majority of Malays support Perkasa'.
In response, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar - one of the most vocal critics of Perkasa - launched a thinly-veiled attack on the daily on his Twitter account.
He tweeted that he “thinks a particular newspaper needs to be reminded who its owners are”.
“I'm advocate for reforms towards a free and responsible press but while in present paradigm, I can't accept editorial line of particular daily,” he said next.
Although Khairy did not name names, the statement was clearly aimed at Utusan.
He has repeatedly claimed that Umno is not in cahoots with Perkasa in any way.
Call for Umno rethink
Over the past week, Umno bigwigs including secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and supreme council member Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz have begun voicing criticism of Perkasa.
They claimed that its hardline views on Malay rights could alienate non-Malay voters in the next general election.
Utusan has backed Perkasa with several stories and its Sunday opinion columns have urged Umno to rethink its stand in rejecting Perkasa.
Among the most recent stories was one quoting the Perak government's information chief Hamdi Abu Bakar, who reportedly said that the Umno leaders' move to distance themselves from Perkasa is syok sendiri (self-serving).
Umno's stance has not deterred Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali and the 50,000 members that he claims to lead.
He has gone so far as to warn Umno, a party of 3.4 million members, that he can give “guidance” to Perkasa members on how to vote in the general election.
In today's edition, the Umno-owned broadsheet devoted an entire page to an assortment of stories defending the NGO, including a poll headlined 'Majority of Malays support Perkasa'.
In response, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar - one of the most vocal critics of Perkasa - launched a thinly-veiled attack on the daily on his Twitter account.He tweeted that he “thinks a particular newspaper needs to be reminded who its owners are”.
“I'm advocate for reforms towards a free and responsible press but while in present paradigm, I can't accept editorial line of particular daily,” he said next.
Although Khairy did not name names, the statement was clearly aimed at Utusan.
He has repeatedly claimed that Umno is not in cahoots with Perkasa in any way.
Call for Umno rethink
Over the past week, Umno bigwigs including secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and supreme council member Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz have begun voicing criticism of Perkasa.
They claimed that its hardline views on Malay rights could alienate non-Malay voters in the next general election.Utusan has backed Perkasa with several stories and its Sunday opinion columns have urged Umno to rethink its stand in rejecting Perkasa.
Among the most recent stories was one quoting the Perak government's information chief Hamdi Abu Bakar, who reportedly said that the Umno leaders' move to distance themselves from Perkasa is syok sendiri (self-serving).
Umno's stance has not deterred Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali and the 50,000 members that he claims to lead.
He has gone so far as to warn Umno, a party of 3.4 million members, that he can give “guidance” to Perkasa members on how to vote in the general election.
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