Perkasa boss fires at ‘useless’ PAS leaders

Going ballistic at a forum last night, Ibrahim Ali blames PAS for destroying Malay unity and mocks the party leaders' education background.

KUALA LUMPUR: Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali unleashed a verbal salvo during a forum here last night, targeting PAS leaders.

He also included Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and Bersih 2.0 chairman S Ambiga in his tirade.

Ibrahim blamed the raging controversy over Mat Indera’s role in the Bukit Kepong police station attack on PAS.

At the Perkasa-organised forum on “Communism, Mat Indera and Independence” in Kelab Sultan Sulaiman, he had accused “useless” PAS leaders of destroying Malay unity.

The controversy stemmed from a ceramah by PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu in Penang last month during which he hailed communist leader Mat Indera as a freedom fighter.

This drew flak from Barisan Nasional and government-aligned NGOs who pointed out that Mat Indera had led the attack on the Bukit Kepong police station that left 25 people dead.

“Mat Sabu’s speech has hurt and angered the armed forces,” Ibrahim told the 500-strong crowd. “He is trying to change history.”

“But the real issue is that he insulted the police who put their lives at risk to defend Bukit Kepong as well as (first premier) Tunku Abdul Rahman and (third premier) Hussein Onn by calling them ‘British officers’,” he said.

‘Our patience has limits’

The Pasir Mas MP further mocked Mat Sabu by referring to his educational background which he said was in art and design.

“What does an art and design (student) know about history and research?” he demanded, drawing laughter from the audience.

“Same goes for Kelantan Menteri Besar (and PAS spiritual adviser) Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat who has very limited formal education.

“He has no knowledge of history yet he accused Mat Sabu’s detractors of the same thing. But I’m not surprised. This is someone who keeps changing his mind on fatwas in the state,” he added.

Training his guns on Ambiga, Ibrahim said the former Bar Council president had insulted the country by encouraging apostasy.

“Yet no action has been taken against her. Then we have Anwar and his sex video but no action has been taken against him either. We are patient but patience has its limits,” he warned.

Ibrahim urged Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to take stern action immediately against both the individuals.

“Do not let the people take the law into their own hands,” he added.