Ibrahim Ali says will defend Pasir Mas seat

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Independent MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali has confirmed he will defend his Pasir MAS seat in the 13th national polls, saying the local community there wants him.

Ibrahim says he has a clean record. — File pic

The truculent politician, who has drawn much flak for his racial comments, won the parliamentary constituency in the March 2008 elections under the PAS banner but declared himself an independent soon after.

“There have been requests for me to defend the Pasir Mas seat. Insya-allah if I live long I will contest there again this GE13,” he was quoted as saying last night by Sinar Harian.

“I am not praising myself, but Alhamdullilah my record is clean, no moral issues have been linked to me because I am always careful to guard my good reputation as a Pasir Mas MP,” he was reported saying.

The Malay-language daily reported the president of Perkasa, a self-styled group championing Malay rights, saying this at last night’s dinner celebrating the fourth anniversary of Jaringan Gerak Usaha Pasir Mas (Jaguh) here.

Ibrahim, who is also a patron of Jaguh, was reported saying he was glad there had been no untoward incidents in his constituency during his term.

Also present were Datuk Zulkifli Noordin, a PKR-turned-independent MP for Kulim-Bandar Baharu, and Perkasa vice-president and Jaguh chief Zulkarnain Mat Junoh.