Dr M: Perkasa popular as Umno appears incapable

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal - The Malaysian Insider

'Perkasa is the biggest among Malay NGOs throughout the country. But it is not as strong as Umno,' said Dr Mahathir at the National Library. – Picture by Jack Ooi

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad believes the Malay nationalist group Perkasa is popular within the community because Umno is being seen as incapable of protecting their rights.

But the former Umno president said his party is still stronger than Perkasa, which is led by Pasir Mas MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali who was a deputy minister in his administration.

“Among the majority of Malays, there is a feeling that Umno is, by itself not quite capable of protecting them (Malays),” Dr Mahathir told reporters after an event at the National Library here.

“This has in turn resulted in a lot of NGOs being formed,” he said, referring to the various Malay non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The former prime minister also affirmed that Perkasa’s popularity among the Malays was increasing because they represented a significant number of Malay opinion.

He however stopped short of stating that the Malay nationalist group was formed as a pressure group to Umno.

“Well, it (Perkasa) is the biggest among Malay NGOs throughout the country. But it is not as strong as Umno.”

Perkasa, which began as a one man band after Election 2008, has been shaping up as a national pressure group to Umno that represents those seeking to defend the constitutional position of the Malays and the social contract.

For the past two months, the Perkasa national leadership has been going on road shows to officiate state level launches and to organise massive recruitment drives.

Dr Mahathir is scheduled to launch the Selangor Perkasa this Saturday. His presence will be seen as a coup for the right-wing organisation.

In every state, Ibrahim, who is the sole independent Member of Parliament, has been able to attract local Umno leaders to attend gatherings and express support for his struggle.

It has also successfully recruited Umno grassroots activists who have failed to climb up the party hierarchy.

Perkasa, which has been at the forefront in fighting for the exclusive use of the term “Allah for Muslims, has also set up its Sarawak chapter, the only state in Malaysia without Umno’s presence.

The group has also been lodging police reports against politicians who stand in their way such as the PAS Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, who supported the Roman Catholic Church’s right to use the term “Allah.”

Umno began in May 1946 in Johor Baru as an umbrella group for all Malay groups and parties opposed to the Malayan Union proposed to consolidate the Malay states after World War 2. It fought for Malay rights and later independence with allies MCA and MIC as the Alliance.

But a section of Malays, who form some 60 per cent of Malaysia’s 28 million population together with the natives in Sabah and Sarawak, think Umno has strayed from its founding ideals and is “pandering” to the non-Malays.

Among them are ex-servicemen who have defended the nation and expect some rewards on retirement, such as taxi permits and business opportunities, which they see as rightful entitlements.