Perkasa defends Syed Mokhtar

Bung Mokhtar’s criticism has no basis, says Ibrahim Ali.

KUALA LUMPUR: Perkasa today accused Kinabatangan MP Bung Mokhtar Radin of speaking out of turn in his criticism of tycoon Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary.

Ibrahim Ali, president of the Malay rights group, said Syed Mokhtar’s capabilities as a businessmen made him deserving of the government contracts he had won.

Bung, an Umno member, said in Parliament this week that the government favoured Syed Mokhtar above other businessmen in dishing out major contracts.

He alleged that the tycoon was attempting to control major businesses in the country.

“He wants Keretapi Tanah Melayu, he wants Mass Rapid Transit. He wants everything on land, sea and air. Given a chance, he will even do business in the graveyard,” Bung said.

Ibrahim told a press conference that Bung’s speech gave the wrong impression that the government was interested only in helping one particular person to succeed.

“The statement made by Bung has no basis,” he said. “The government has helped many other Malay businessmen to succeed.”

Citing the tycoon’s flagship business, Port Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), Ibrahim said Syed Mokhtar had managed to turn the Johor port into a success story in the face of many hurdles.

“Even Singapore is feeling the pinch of losing some of their port based businesses due to PTP. If he’s doing a good job, what’s wrong with giving more business to him?”

He added that Syed Mokhtar was also a charitable man, unlike many other business tycoons in Malaysia.

“Through the Al-Bukhary Foundation, he has built many schools and mosques in the country, but he doesn’t publicise them like some business tycoons who like to just pose with big mock cheques.”

Ibrahim also used the press conference to criticise Kelantan PAS for insisting on having Nik Aziz Nik Mat continue as chief executive of the state despite his poor health.

“It’s shameful statement,” he said in reference to an Utusan Malaysia report quoting Kelantan exco Takiyuddin Hassan as saying that Kelantan PAS wanted Nik Aziz to contest in the 13th general election.

“They are only thinking of riding on Nik Aziz’s popularity to the general election,” Ibrahim said. “They are not thinking about how to develop Kelantan.”

He said a menteri besar should be physically fit. “How is Nik Aziz going to perform if he is going in and out of hospital all the time?”