Dr M says not racist for backing Perkasa

Dr Mahathir says Perkasa is not racist. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that he is not a racist for backing Perkasa, arguing instead that he is only working to ensure Malay support for Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN).

He also defended Perkasa from charges that it was racist, suggesting instead that “if it is really racist then it would be demanding the abolition of the special treatment of the Chinese and Indians”.

The former prime minister did not, however, specify the special treatment given to the Chinese and Indian communities.

Writing in his blog today in a posting entitled “Perkasa and me,” Dr Mahathir stressed that Umno needed Malay support to win the next general election and pointed out that ignoring Perkasa’s large following would not benefit the ruling party.

Perkasa claims to have a membership of 300,000, 80 per cent of whom are said to be disillusioned Umno members.

“Accordingly, I have decided to stay close with Perkasa especially and to ensure that it does not swing over to the opposition,” Dr Mahathir wrote.

“Looking at the strength of Malay support for Perkasa, antagonising them would not be to the benefit of the Barisan Nasional or Umno,” he said, pointing out that Malay support for Umno has been decreasing.

“Umno may think that all the Malays are supportive of the party. But Umno cannot be sure of that. Meanwhile, Malay support for Umno was silently eroding,” said Dr Mahathir.

He pointed out that the loss of Malay votes for the ruling coalition was shown in Election 2008 when BN lost its customary two-thirds majority in Parliament.

“In the 2008 elections, the loss of Malay support for Umno became evident. Many either abstained or voted for PAS. In the 2008 elections, many Umno and BN candidates won only by small margins even in their strongholds,” he said.

The former prime minister rejected the notion that Perkasa was racist.

“If it (Perkasa) is truly racist, then it would be demanding the abolition of the special treatment of the Chinese and Indians in Malaysia. This it has not done except when defending the Malay position,” said Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir said that groups with a big following could damage BN politically.

“Whatever may be the feelings of Umno, I have decided that the NGOs have a big enough following which could do damage to Umno and the BN in the next election if they want to,” he said.

In September, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor noted that the party should distance itself from Perkasa as any association with it would cause BN to lose votes in the next general election.

Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali then warned Umno not to be complacent about its vote bank and threatened to give “guidance” to his members on how to vote in the next general election.

Several Umno leaders later joined in the anti-Perkasa chorus and agreed that it was time to openly renounce links with Perkasa. MCA leaders then quickly jumped in to laud their colleagues’ decision.

In an apparent about-turn, however, Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that Umno was not in conflict with any NGO.

Following Najib’s statement, Tengku Adnan immediately denied that he had ever asked party leaders to sever ties with Perkasa.

Dr Mahathir had previously warned Umno against alienating Perkasa as the move would cost the largest Malay party at the ballot box.

Today, the country’s longest-serving prime minister lashed out at the Najib administration for failing to uphold Malay rights and warned that even a small number of angry supporters in certain constituencies could cause BN’s ultimate defeat in the upcoming polls.

“Najib took over and he tried to regain Chinese support by apparently giving in to Chinese demands on several issues. The new Umno leadership also opted to remain silent and failed to defend the Malay position,” he said.

“If in the next election, defections by even a small number of supporters in some constituencies can result in a reduction of the Barisan Nasional majority or even cause the BN to lose altogether,” warned Dr Mahathir.

He added that Perkasa has hinted that it backed Umno, although the group has repeatedly denied links with the ruling party.

“Perkasa has not indicated that it is against BN and Umno. In fact it has hinted that it is for Umno,” said Dr Mahathir.