Get rid of Chinese NGOs as well, says Perkasa boss

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: Perkasa boss Ibrahim Ali today challenged the government to eliminate Chinese NGOs such as education group Dong Jiao Zhong if it feels that the Malay right-wing group which he leads should be eradicated.

He was responding to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz who said yesterday that it was best to "get rid of" groups like Perkasa, which are stumbling blocks to the 1Malaysia agenda.

"When Nazri said Umno does not support Perkasa, fine, we accept it. But when he said it is best to get rid of Perkasa, that is uncalled for.

“Why not get rid of other ethnic-based NGOs like Dong (Jiao) Zhong and others?" Ibrahim told reporters at Parliament House.

Nazri had made the remark when he shot down the proposal by MCA vice-president Donald Lim to set up a Chinese version of Perkasa to counter Ibrahim's movement.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had a different take, saying that everyone was entitled to form their own Perkasa.

'Utterly shocking'

This drew flak from DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang, who described Muhyiddin's statement as “utterly shocking” and accused the number two of blatant disrespect for his boss.

"It is utterly shocking that a deputy prime minister of the Najib administration which advocated the 1Malaysia policy could envisage and even publicly propose the formation of Chinese, Indian, Iban and Kadazan Perkasa to counter the racist posturings and outpourings of Perkasa,” he said.

However, Ibrahim claimed that Chinese chauvinist groups are attempting to paint Perkasa as a racist outfit, a charge which he vehemently denies.

"DAP is trying hard to exploit this notion... where the distorted portrayal of a great organisation like Perkasa has given the wrong impression to the public

"DAP is trying to manipulate the issue by harping on the statement made by the deputy prime minister, as if he is supporting Perkasa...,” he added.

Ibrahim, who is also the independent MP for Pasir Mas, stressed that Perkasa's struggle is to uphold the Federal Constitution and Najib's 1Malaysia.

DAP, he said, is making a “rude and perverted” demand for racial equality.