DOES IT REALLY MATTER? How will Ibrahim Ali gain entry into GE13?

A big poser has developed over where and for which party Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali is contesting in this general election.

Ibrahim won the 2008 polls in Pasir Mas on a PAS ticket and since then, he has ignored PAS and even hit out at Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (below).

Instead of supporting PAS programmes in the state, Ibrahim has taken on the role of an opposition to the state government and at federal level, with Perkasa as his platform, Ibrahim projects himself as a champion of Malays and Islam.

Ibrahim was quick to hit the headlines with his comments that pleased some Umno leaders and members and became the thorn to opposition PAS and PKR.

The question now is how is he going to contest against PAS - as a BN candidate or an Independent?

If Ibrahim contests as a true Independent, how is he going to campaign as his future plans to the voters would be similar to BN candidate.

The only "extras or edge" Ibrahim has will be the Perkasa members who are loyal to him and would vote for him rather than BN.

But this would not augur well for BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak who is bent on seeing all Umno candidates win, especially after going through "thick and thin" in selection of candidates.

If he is to contest as a BN-friendly candidate and if BN would not field any for Pasir Mas, Ibrahim would have a smooth walk but will such a thing happen?

Ibrahim cannot be admitted into Umno as he was expelled for life by former Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his only way of being admitted is by consensus of the supreme council members.

And will Umno, under the presidency of Najib, admit him into the fold now?

- The Malay Mail