Funding Perkasa suicidal for BN, says Gerakan Youth

The BN government is undermining itself by funding a "disruptive" group such as the Malay supremacists Perkasa, and this has warded off many voters, including urban Malays, Gerakan said today.

Calling the Malay rights group's work as the opposite of BN's objectives, the party's Youth chief Tan Keng Liang (left) urged the government to clarify why key government institutions were involved with a number of Perkasa programmes.

Earlier this week Perkasa admitted that it had received funding from agencies such as the National Security Council (MKN), National Civics Bureau (BTN) and the Special Affairs Department (Jasa), which comes under the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.

"It's suicidal for BN to fund Perkasa because its activities are not helping the government... it's creating a bad image," Tan told Malaysiakini.

"If it is true, it has to be reviewed... the government has to come out and clarify the situation, or more rumours will spread."

Tan's views were echoed by Gerakan vice-president Dominic Lau who also texted his view that the party "strongly opposed the government aiding Perkasa."

"Gerakan's stand on Perkasa has been very clear all this while, which is we are against extreme racist party/organisation," he noted.

He said that the government should ensure that all NGOs, regardless of political inclinations, are fairly funded but must also make sure no fund goes to NGOs that are not promoting social unity and justice.

Similarly, MCA, another BN component party questioned Perkasa's qualification.

Citing her past experience as a deputy minister, MCA woman division chief Heng Seai Kie said that only NGOs that provide community and social services and effectively help the government received such financial aid.

Perkasa self-image in sorry state

"We feel sorry to say that with Perkasa's current leadership - all their statements, activities and programmes - they create a negative impression in public...they have been labelled as racist propagandists and have nothing to do with government," Heng told Malaysiakini over the phone.

Heng, however, said that she hoped Perkasa can change, since it is now in the limelight.

"I hope Perkasa can learn from the public response when they know about the funding. As a responsible NGO, Perkasa should revise their programmes and statements and they way they carry themselves. They should be grateful for government support and stop creating racial-friction," she said.

"If they don't change, the government has a right to stop funding them."

When asked if Perkasa was helping BN to win the Malay electorate  over as recently claimed, MCA's Heng also disagreed.

"I don't think so. If they are helping to unite the Malays, then in the last general elections, Pakatan Rakyat wouldn't have gotten so much support from the Malays," she said.

"Unity is called for as we move towards Vision 2020 with PM's 1Malaysia spirit, Perkasa is doing just the opposite."