Anger over Perkasa’s use of state facilities

MP asks: Would another NGO—say Bersih—be given the same honour?

SEREMBAN: The Negeri Sembilan government is under fire for allowing Perkasa to hold its annual meeting yesterday at the state secretariat building and to use the state emblem on a banner publicising the event.

Seremban MP John Fernandez (DAP), state PAS commissioner Mohd Taufek Abdul Ghani and political analyst Hishamuddin Rais today blasted State Secretary Mat Ali Hassan and Menteri Besar Mohamad Hassan for what they said was an insult to citizens of the state who regard the Malay rights group as extremist.

Mohamed was the guest of honour at the gathering, which was Negeri Sembilan Perkasa’s second annual general meeting.

“It’s highly unprofessional and unethical for the Menteri Besar to officiate at the AGM of an NGO,” Fernandez said. “It’s as if Perkasa is a Barisan Nasional component party.

“Does this mean that any NGO—let’s say the Negeri Sembilan chapter of Bersih—can now use the state emblem and the building for its AGM?”

Hishamuddin said Mohamad Hasan must take full responsibility for supporting what he called a “fringe racist group”.

“I’m a Negeri Sembilan boy and I don’t believe Perkasa’s sentiments reflect the sentiments of Negeri Sembilan people,” he said.

“The majority of Negeri people reject all forms of racism—Malay racism, Chinese racism or Indian racism.

“Mohamad’s act of officiating the meeting ran counter to the aim of 1Malaysia.”

Fernandez said that although most people were aware that BN and Perkasa were “two halves of a twin carburetor in the same engine room”, it was still atrocious for the state secretary to allow the NGO to have its meeting in the same complex of buildings in which the state legislature has its sessions.

He asked the government to clarify whether an NGO could rent a government building and use the state emblem in its publicity materials.

Mohd Taufek said he smelled something fishy. “I hope there was no political agenda in all this, especially with the general election around the corner.”