Ibrahim Ali crowns Mat Taib the new 'King of Frogs'

Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali has expressed disappointment after being robbed of his “King of Frogs” title, following former Selangor menteri besar Muhammad Muhammad Taib’s return to Umno.

Speaking at a press conference, Ibrahim jokingly said that Muhammad now holds the “gold medal in jumping parties,” along with former law minister Zaid Ibrahim and Hisbah Centre for Reform founder Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor.

“In summary, I feel a bit disappointed because the ‘King of Frogs’ title has been snatched by someone else.

“The gold medallists are now Muhammad Taib, Zaid Ibrahim and Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor.

“(PKR secretary-general) Saifuddin Nasution and myself now hold the silver medal, while there are many bronze medallists, for example (Amanah president) Mohamad Sabu and those in Bersatu,” he said while laughing.

Muhammad, popularly known as Mat Taib, had left Umno to join PAS in April 2013, before moving on to join PKR about two years later.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced Muhammad’s return to Umno at a much anticipated press conference at the party’s headquarters. 

Ibrahim himself was first appointed as an Umno MP for Pasir Mas in 1986, and later held the seat for Umno-splinter Semangat 46 in 1990.

He contested and lost the Pasir Mas seat in all three subsequent general elections, twice on a BN ticket, and once as an independent in 2004.

Ibrahim returned to parliament in 2008 on a PAS ticket, but a subsequent fall-out with the party eventually led him to quit and serve as an independent MP for Pasir Mas.

Since then, his critics accorded him the title “King of Frogs” for “jumping” between parties.

Ibrahim has indicated his intention to contest in Pasir Mas again in the upcoming 14th General Election, despite losing the seat as an independent in 2013.

However, he also said that he has no interest in joining any political parties, although claiming that there have been several invitations for him to do so.

“I admit that many political parties had courted me, but it is difficult for me to join any party, because all the existing party presidents are not that much different to me. This means I should also be the party president,” he joked.- Mkini