Khairy wants Umno, BN to move away from Perkasa

Khairy says Perkasa is ‘hurting’ BN. — File pic

 KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 — Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has raised concerns that Barisan Nasional (BN) would lose non-Malay support if it does not immediately disassociate itself from Malay rights group Perkasa.

Khairy said there was a perception now to affiliate Umno with Perkasa, and this was “hurting” BN’s bid to gain non-Malay votes which severely dwindled in the last general election.

“Perkasa is hurting us, our chances in gaining non-Malay votes. For Umno, BN to win, we cannot afford to be associated with these people. They are alienating us from a large segment of voters,” he said.

Khairy, who is also BN Youth chief, told The Malaysian Insider Umno’s method of attracting Malay support was “acceptable” to other races because it was not done in a confrontational manner.

“The way in which Umno carries out its struggle is acceptable to non-Malays because it is not confrontational like Perkasa,” he said.

The Rembau MP dismissed Perkasa Wira chief Arman Azha Abu Haniffah’s claims that more Umno Youth members were joining the rights group because they were disillusioned with Khairy’s leadership of Umno Youth which they said no longer championed Malay interests.

“That is ridiculous. We don’t need them (Perkasa). Umno Youth is aware and in full support of Umno’s direction, where we must get support from not only Malays, but Chinese and Indians as well,” said Khairy.

Arman said yesterday that many Umno Youth members were unhappy that Malay interests were no longer prioritised.

“The sentiment on the ground is that Umno Youth is missing the presence of a Youth chief who prioritises Umno, Malay interests above everything else.

“Lately, Khairy’s statements do not reflect his position as Umno Youth chief. He should understand, his priority is to safeguard the interests of Umno first, but what is happening is that Khairy seems more concerned with his position as Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth chief. That is why Umno Youth members are joining Perkasa,” Arman told The Malaysian Insider.

Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali later added fuel to the fire, claiming that Khairy could not get over the fact that he was not given a deputy minister’s post in the Najib administration, and that the Umno Youth chief was using Perkasa as an “excuse” to vent out his frustration.

“I find KJ’s (Khairy Jamaluddin) statement wanting to leave Umno if a majority of its members supported Perkasa very funny. What is KJ’s disease? (He is) mentally ill.

“Perhaps his frustration in not being selected as a deputy minister has reached its climax and he is now using Perkasa as an excuse,” Ibrahim told The Malaysian Insider via SMS.

Khairy refused to comment on Ibrahim’s remarks.

“No, I don’t want to comment on this, it’s not even worth commenting on... this will just give more fuel for him to use so that he can try and remain relevant (in politics),” he said.

At a Ramadan forum debate yesterday, PAS MP Khalid Samad claimed that Umno was “drowning” due to Perkasa’s influence.

“If there is a situation where Umno chooses Perkasa over me, I will leave (the party),” said Khairy at the same forum.

Khairy and Ibrahim have been at loggerheads, with the latter demanding that Khairy resign as Rembau MP for compromising Malay interests in defending MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong over the issue of scholarship allocations.

Perkasa was formed soon after Election 2008 by the independent Pasir Mas MP who claimed that it was a response to increasing threats to the Malays.

The group has successfully turned into a pressure group in ensuring the government continues to protect what Perkasa calls the constitutional position of the Malays, in particular the pro-Bumiputera policy in awarding of government projects and scholarship.