Indian NGO says Ibrahim ‘loving man’

Perinbam plans to emulate Perkasa's philosophy of 'going all out and fighting for the community"

PETALING JAYA: An Indian NGO here believes that Perkasa has begun to “gain the trust” of the Indian community and that this was visible during the later’s Deepavali open house recently.

Persatuan India Baru Amal dan Kebajikan India (Perinbam) president V Thamotharam claimed that 6,000 people had turned up and it was testimony to the community’s “slowly changing” perception of the organisation and its chief Ibrahim Ali.

“He (Ibrahim) is a loving man…He is not a racist as claimed by many.

“He cares about his community and will go all out to fight for their rights. It’s something we want to emulate,” said Thamotharam adding that crowd that turned up at the open house in Sri Gombak had enjoyed the food and Ibrahim’s speech and hospitality.

He said Perinbam looked up to Perkasa as a role model especially in how the organization is determined, at all cost, to look after the Malay community’s welfare.

“We have a lot to learn from them. They fight for their rights,” added Thamotharam.

Perkasa, an ethnic Malay organisation has been in the spotlight over Ibrahim’s controversial statements on several race and religious issues.

Ibrahim had, among others, reportedly called for the burning of the Bible and had backed the SK Pristina school principal’s decision to shift the tuckshop to the toilet during Ramadan month.

The later issue was raised by an angry Perinbam with Ibrahim.

But when asked about it today, Thamotharam told FMT: “There is no longer any conflict with them (Perkasa).

“We now want to strive forward and not look back. I have no comment’s on Ibrahim’s past statements,” he said.

Thamotharam further added that his association had planned to carry out a few projects with Perkasa next year.

“We plan to do a few projects with Perkasa to help improve the living standards of Indians and Malays,” he said adding that Perimban was established in 2011 .

The association’s main focus was education and welfare of the poor children.

Perkasa's Indian ally backs cow slaughter in schools

After earning flak from the Hindu community for defending the slaughter of cows in schools, Perkasa has found itself an Indian-based ally in the form of the New Indian Welfare and Charity Association (Perinnbam) which backs the Malay rights group's stance.

"If the Malays want to do ‘korban' (in schools), there is nothing wrong. After all, in the previous cases, the headmasters had discussed the matter with the Parent and Teacher Associations (PTAs) and the school staff.

"There is no need to politicise the matter," said Perinnbam chief U Thamotharan during a Deepavali open house today organised by his association with Perkasa among its guests of honour.

Thamotharan (right in photo) said so long as precautions are taken, the issue of cow slaughters by Muslims in national schools should not arise.

"For example, if there is to be a ‘korban' on a particular day, Indian students may be allowed not to come to school.

"So long as it is in national schools, it is fine. If it is Tamil schools, then it is not okay because Hindu prayers may also be conducted there," he said.

Perkasa had in July, together with Perinnbam and Chinese-based Malaysia New Era Chinese Association (Percisma) formed an inter-racial coalition dubbed the Malaysian inter-racial NGO council (Mirac) in a bid to shed allegations that it was racist.

Perkasa has steadfastly stated that Muslims should be allowed to conduct cow slaughter in national schools and any opposition to this should be taken up with the Malay rulers, who are the protectors of Islam.
Ibrahim: Let's not create tension

However, when Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali was asked about the matter again at the Deepavali open house, he declined to state a stand on the matter on behalf of Mirac.

"We (Mirac) are taking the issue slowly, we do not want to rush it based on sentiments created by political parties... we do not want to create tension," he said.

During Hari Raya Aidil Adha last month, several Hindu parents voiced disapproval after the slaughter of cows was conducted in a number of national schools. Cows are deemed to be sacred to Hindus.

The incidences triggered a religious debate and even the Education Ministry issued conflicting statements, with Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan saying that the slaughters in schools was wrong, while Education Minister II Idris Jusoh approved of the ritual in schools.