“It is necessary for the government to delay any allocation and approval of projects for the community. They show no appreciation to BN government’s efforts, even though the BN government had to hurt the feelings of the Malay [Malaysian] and the natives.”
“All their demands are fulfilled by the government but they do not know how to be grateful.”
PERKASA president Datuk Ibrahim Ali, a day after the Hulu Selangor by-election which Barisan Nasional (BN) won on the back of Malay Malaysian votes, while Chinese Malaysian voters supported the federal opposition. He was referring to the RM3 million promised by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to a Chinese vernacular school in Rasa, Hulu Selangor.
Ibrahim also said the poll results showed that ethnic-based affirmative action policies should be maintained. (Source: Rethink aid to Chinese areas, says Perkasa, Malaysian Insider, 26 April 2010)
“[Chinese Malaysians] should be grateful by the gift and (acknowledge) that what was promised to them is not little…whatever it is, repent.”
Ibrahim, after Najib ignored his call to rethink aid to the Chinese vernacular school in Hulu Selangor and handed over the money despite BN losing the Chinese Malaysian vote there. Ibrahim said he called Chinese Malaysians ungrateful to provoke them to “repentance”. (Source: Repent, Ibrahim Ali asks Chinese, Malaysian Insider, 29 April 2010)
“It is [because of] the existence of organisations like Perkasa that the MCA finds it difficult in getting the Chinese [Malaysians] to support the BN.”
“Malaysia will not be able to progress if we continue to have people like Ibrahim, who professes to champion along racial lines with disregard to the sensitivity of other communities.”
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, after Ibrahim asked the government to rethink aid to Chinese Malaysians in Hulu Selangor. Separately, MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu said Ibrahim’s remarks were “irritatingly disturbing and damaging”. (Source: Press statement by MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek on remarks made by Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali, MCA website, 27 April 2010)
“The Chinese [Malaysian] voters openly supported the DAP policies. The Chinese [Malaysian] voters want their own ways to prevail, despite the bumiputras having to ‘swallow’ the Barisan Nasional’s call for compromise to allow the Chinese community to have their wish.”
After the Sibu by-election, which BN lost to DAP, Ibrahim again blames Chinese Malaysian voters for being ungrateful for what the government has given them. (Source: Ibrahim labels Chinese as ungrateful, The Star, 18 May 2010)
“Our party sees no further need to respond to him or his organisation as to do so would only be dignifying his irrational diatribe of extremism and giving him unwarranted free publicity.”
MCA has decided not to dignify Perkasa by responding to Ibrahim’s further remarks, said the party’s publicity bureau deputy chairperson Loh Seng Kok. Ibrahim cannot offer any constructive suggestions to achieve 1Malaysia for the government, Loh added. (Source: Racial blame game rather than constructivism expected from Perkasa & Ibrahim Ali — MCA Publicity Deputy Chief, MCA website, 17 May 2010)
“The immediate task for BN is to condemn racist statements from Perkasa and make it clear to them that BN will not tolerate nor accommodate racism and extremism, in whatever form.”
Liang Teck Meng, Gerakan’s deputy secretary-general and Simpang Renggam Member of Parliament, telling Perkasa to “shut up”. Liang noted that despite Ibrahim’s claims to be pro-BN, he was doing more damage by “pushing away non-Malay [Malaysian] voters from BN”. (Source: Ibrahim Ali, shut up, press statement on Gerakan website, 17 May 2010 and Perkasa is not a friend of BN, press statement via e-mail, 17 May 2010)
“Perkasa has its role. They have their supporters so we cannot sideline them.”
“We cannot say we don’t like this group, we don’t like that group. In the end, no one would like us.”
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad while campaigning during the Hulu Selangor by-election. Mahathir, who chastised Malay Malaysians for over-dependency on the New Economic Policy before he retired, said Perkasa was useful in getting voter support because it had a large number of supporters. Malay Malaysians in Hulu Selangor formed 53% of the electorate. (Source: Dr M says Perkasa very useful to BN, The Malaysian Insider, 23 April 2010)
“Perkasa is not so extreme, if you listen to them carefully. They can shout about Malay rights as long as they are not extreme in their views, and you know, to the extent that we can accommodate Perkasa. And we can accommodate also the non-Malays as well.”
“They are by and large supportive of Umno and they believe that Umno is the only vehicle that can really not only promote Malay interest but really hold this country together.”
“I’m confident in fact, you know with the policies based on the spirit and philosophy of 1Malaysia, that everyone will have a rightful place under the Malaysian sun.”
Najib, in an interview with satellite channel Al Jazeera aired before both the Hulu Selangor and Sibu by-elections. He was explaining the New Economic Model and how the government deals with groups like Perkasa. (Source: Perkasa not so extreme, Malaysiakini, 3 April 2010, and Interview: Najib Razak, 101 East, Al Jazeera, 2 April 2010) 
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Leithaisor says
If the question was ‘Who unknowingly / foolishly supports Perkasa?” the obvious top of the list answer would be the poor Pakatan Rakyat supporters of Pasir Mas.
Non-PAS member, ex-Umno and unsuccessful, Ibrahim has repaid PAS’ gracious lifeline to him in March 2008 by declaring his independent status when Pakatan voters in Pasir Mas voted him into the Dewan Rakyat with an almost 9,000 vote majority.
Could someone like Ibrahim, often derisively tagged as the “Frog Prince”, have managed that victory on his own, or lost his deposit?
And now, keris-waving Ibrahim is leading Perkasa, with Umno Baru member No.1 and inaugural Bintang Pribumi Perkasa holder Mahathir Mohamad openly backing him, and Umno President and PM of Malaysia Najib saying they are “not so extreme”.
And Ibrahim has the gall to crow about “being grateful”…
Colin Wong says
Ibrahim Ali and company are basically caught in a time warp. Their thinking is totally feudal in nature, vesting power in the hands of warlords, i.e. political incumbents. Usage of words such as grateful, appreciation, hurt, etc are clear evidence of that fact.
Umno’s tolerance of this group is tantamount to an endorsement of what Perkasa stands for. BN has lost my vote because of this.
garuru156 says
I recall that during the 1999 general election, a number of Malay [Malaysian] voters turned to PAS. Why didn’t Ibrahim Ali didn’t ask the BN government to relinquish Malay [Malaysian] special privileges?
Instead, Chinese [Malaysian] voters gave their utmost support for BN. And [what was] the ‘reward’ – the dismissal of the ‘Suqiu’ memorandum and the linkage of Suqiu to quasi-terrorism activities by the Mahathir administration.
If we the rakyat have to be grateful for all government efforts for us, then there is no point for the Chinese [Malaysian] communities to pay the taxes because of the pro-bumiputera unfair treatment in the NEP. We are just subsidising the undeserving rich Umno alligators and yet they are not showing any gratitude to us.
Perkasa is just an extreme Umno right-wing organisation and obstacle to our national unity.
Ibrahim Ali is merely just a dumb politician and should be thrown in into the dustbin of history.
SM says
It was not a “gift”. It was a “bribe”! And the Chinese [Malaysians] rejected the bribe! Good for them! Actually, I hope Ibrahim Ali is allowed to continue his racist shouts and insults! It helps us all remember what the Nazi party and South Africa’s apartheid was all about and why we never want people like this (or the organization he represents) to ever come into power!
Ellese A says
Perkasa will die a natural death when racists business practices and vernacular schools cease to exists. When we focus on becoming Malaysian above else then we will see a more united front.
Currently there are too much extreme diatribes. On one hand, people call Perkasa racists for protecting Malay [Malaysian] rights under the constitution, and on the other hand, people call Chinese [Malaysians] movements racists because of their protection of vernacular schools which is also protected by our constitution.
We’ve become too partisan [to give] up on our values. Take the instance where Najib provided ‘gifts’ to [people in] Sibu. One group argues that it’s bribery but at the same time praises those people [in Sibu] for accepting it. As if a bribe is always the result of the giver. A bribe needs both giver and taker. If Sibu people are as principled as claimed, they must reject and refuse the offer. Only then we teach our children the right value of bribery. Only then do we also teach the children that if you’re caught with an offense, the driver offering bribe is as guilty as those accepting the bribe. It’s a two way street but because of our blind following we forget these values.
Because we forget these essential values, we forget to respect each other. We forget to respect both the Malay [Malaysian] and Chinese [Malaysian] sensitivities.
cherasusie says
I’m really confused by these two wannabe Malay [Malaysian] heroes.
Why should non-Malay [Malaysians] be grateful? The constitution never stated that when it was formulated.
Ketuanan Melayu, tanah Melayu? Hello? Sabah and Sarawak tanah Melayu ka? What rights do [Malay Malaysians have] to lord over the orang Iban, Kadazan dan lain lain? This is an act of betrayal!!!! Don’t be a hero of Malay [Malaysians but] be a traitor of Malaysia.
Malaysia is like my house, I want to be it a comfortable place, a beautiful place, a place I can be proud of and the best place on earth but would I do anything to make it great if you keep saying I am only a guest? A grateful guest? The feeling is totally different even if I like Malaysia very much.
Every place has its own history, accept what we are, accept the constitution we agreed [upon] before Malaysia was formed. It never says that Malaysia should be an Islamic country, it never says Chinese and Indian [vernacular] schools should be closed, or that temples and churches be torn down.
Chinese [Malaysians] and non-Malaysians are a blessing for Malaysia. Truly Asia is the right word, making it a very interesting place for the rest of the world. Arabs don’t just go to our mosques, they like Bukit Bintang and Genting Highland also… […].
Malaysian know there are no extremist Chinese [Malaysians] … […].
Malaysia belongs to all Malaysians, not Malays, Chinese, Indians or natives. If you think so, go back to where you belong. To me, you would ask me to go back to China…[…]?
The Chinese [Malaysians] [rejected] you …[…]… remember who started it first.