Now, Ibrahim Ali wants new political pact with non-Malays

Ibrahim Ali

KUALA LUMPUR (Malaysian Insider) - Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali is considering a new political pact — including teaming up with non-Malays for the next general election — following Umno’s snubbing of the Malay rights group this week.

Ibrahim disclosed his new strategy after Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders moved to distance themselves from the Malay rights movement.

He, however, maintained that Perkasa will not enter into politics.

“I have made the decision, I will co-operate with candidates who understand our stand — including non-Malay candidates.

“I don’t care about race, [but] only those who understand the Federal Constitution, who is of good character, has integrity, fluent in Bahasa Malaysia and ready to face the 13th general election,” he told The Malaysian Insider today.

The Pasir Mas MP said he was taking the step to prove that both he and Perkasa were not racists but were instead sacrificing for the country, the Malays, the Bumiputeras and all races.

He added the decision was taken after the two main Malay parties — Umno and PAS — declared they would not support him in the next general election.

Ibrahim won in Election 2008 on a PAS ticket but broke ranks with the Islamist party after the polls.

“I realise and expected that PAS will not make way for me, and other parties are distancing themselves from me. I don’t care. It’s not about contesting or not.

“The main issue is the survival of the Malays in their own land,” he told reporters after his Hari Raya open house at the Pasir Mas railway station today.

The independent MP said a final decision will be announced at an appropriate time and that it will be a surprise to everyone.

“I have my own strategy, my strategy will surprise many quarters and is based on Malay and Muslim interests, but we know of 42 parliamentary seats which are being contested by those within BN, PKR, MCA, DAP and Gerakan... where 62 per cent of these are Malay-majority seats,” he added.

Yesterday, Ibrahim warned Umno that it could only count on the support of three out of 10 party members in the next general election, adding that only a fraction of the party’s 3.4 million members were hard-core supporters while the rest were influenced by issues and moves by other parties.

His attack against Umno and BN came after the coalition’s leaders repudiated him and Perkasa’s struggle, saying the latter’s actions could cost them support in the next elections.

Umno and BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor told The Malaysian Insider last week that they will not support Ibrahim and will instead contest against him in the next polls.

Ibrahim had been sacked from Umno in 2004.

Perkasa said last March that its enemies will not get their support in the general election.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today repeated his backing for Perkasa, warning Umno it could lose badly at the ballot box if it snubbed the movement.

Umno’s Mingguan Malaysia also wrote today in its Awang Selamat column that the party should not alienate Perkasa.