 | |
| Formation | 2008 |
|---|---|
| Type | Malay supremacy,Malayisation,extreme-right,ultra-nationalism,Islamonationalism,Cultural chauvinism |
| Purpose | protectArticle 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia, defend the rights of Bumiputera from being eroded, defend the rights of theMalays which are allegedly being challenged by non-Malays in Malaysia. |
| Location | |
Key people | Ibrahim Ali |
| Website | www |
Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa (Malay for "Mighty Native Organisation" or better known by itsacronym:Perkasa), is aMalay supremacist[1]non-governmental organisation (NGO) that was formed byIbrahim Ali in the aftermath of the2008 general election (GE12). This conservative,extreme-right,ethnic Malay organisation is led by its president Ibrahim Ali to influence the unity of Malaysian by refusing to accept any decoration of other ethnic group except Malay decoration. The group is reported to have a membership of 700,000.[2][3]
The major objectives for establishing Perkasa, according toIbrahim Ali, are to act as "protectors ofArticle 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia" and to defend the rights ofBumiputera from being eroded by certain quarters.[4] Perkasa is said to be fighting and defending the rights of theMalays which they feel are being challenged by non-Malays inMalaysia.
Perkasa has recently become infamous for its racial and religious provocations against non-Malays, especially Chinese and Indians; and non-Muslims, especially Christians through vocal, physical and violent means.[5] Despite the continuous offensive and seditious remarks by its chief Ibrahim Ali and its members that have threatened social harmony, no legal action has been taken by the Malaysian authorities so far.[6] It has been branded afascist organisation by MPs from the Malaysian federal opposition coalitionPakatan Rakyat (PR) in the past.[7]
In September 2010, Ibrahim Ali claimed that 60% of Perkasa members wereUnited Malays National Organisation (UMNO) members.[8] However, both Ibrahim Ali and UMNO's secretary-generalTengku Adnan denied any ties between UMNO and Perkasa[8] although both of them agreed that several UMNO members are also Perkasa members.[9][10]
Despite Perkasa's close association with UMNO, Ibrahim Ali during Perkasa's 2013 annual general assembly, had alleged that UMNO had shown weakness and become "toothless" in their efforts to safeguard the rights of the Malays and had implied the possibility of Perkasa becoming a full-fledged political party to participate in2018 general election (GE14), going head-to-head against UMNO.[11] In 2018, after the GE14 which saw the downfall ofBarisan Nasional (BN) and UMNO government, Ibrahim Ali finally foundedParti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (PUTRA); a new party that based on the UMNO original constitution to serve as an alternative to the Malays and the new party registration was approved in 2019.[12]
Ibrahim Ali, the formerPasir MasMember of Parliament, is the founder and first president of Perkasa. The other leader of Perkasa is its Deputy President Dato' Fuad Hassan (2008–2014).[13] Ibrahim has attempted twice to resign as Perkasa president in 2013[14] and again in 2018,[15] but both were rejected by Perkasa's supreme council.
On 1 July 2010, the official organ of Perkasa,Suara Perkasa published an article on its front page askingDr. Wee Ka Siong to be detained underInternal Security Act (ISA) for questioning the special position ofBumiputera which is under theArticle 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia. However, Wee dismissed Perkasa's allegation.[36]Suara Perkasa was called by the Malaysian Home Ministry the following day for an explanation. The article received a backlash by the component parties inBarisan Nasional, includingUnited Malays National Organisation (UMNO),Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) andMalaysian Indian Congress (MIC).[37] On 5 July 2010, the controversialSuara Perkasa was let off with a warning by the Home Ministry for publishing an article that could have jeopardised national unity. However some members of UMNO, the leading component of the ruling Barisan Nasional government in Malaysia are supporters of its founder, who was also previously a member of the political party. Datuk Ibrahim Ali was an independent MP in his home state of Kelantan and was known to have strong grassroots support in his constituency. He is also close to the top leadership of UMNO (United Malay National Organisation) and at one time was a member of the Supreme Council of that party. He is still an influential politician and was also close to the previous Deputy Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as they were previously members of ABIM (Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia - Malaysian Islamic Youth Assembly) which the former deputy minister headed. Datuk Seri Ibrahim Ali was the Member of Parliament for Pasir Mas (2008–2013), a constituency in his home state of Kelantan. He is now rallying support from Malaysians to reject Datuk SeriAnwar Ibrahim as the next Malaysian leader on account of the alleged personality flaws of the latter. This movement seems to gather much momentum among the rural Malays and Malaysians in general as can be evidenced by massive turnout especially among his Malay supporters. He is aided in his campaign by Datuk Hassan Ali, a former member ofParti Islam Se-Malaysia who had left the Pakatan Rakyat coalition top leadership because of differences of opinion on multiple issues, one of which relating to the controversial use of the word Allah in the Bible.[38]
During the Perkasa Anti-Bersih launch at Kelab Sultan Sulaiman on 19 June 2011 which is a counter protest ofBersih 2.0 rally, presidentIbrahim Ali was reported stoking racial tension in his speech, warning the Chinese to "stock up food" as "anything can happen", because he claimed that ifBersih 2.0 rally was not cancelled, racial riots similar to13 May incident may happen. In other word, he implied that the Chinese should be staying indoors to avoid any trouble on the day of theBersih 2.0 rally on 9 July 2011. Following his speech, lawmakers from both sides of the political divide have accused him of turning the rally, which was supposed to be demanding for free and fair election, into a racial issue.UMNO Youth ChiefKhairy Jamaluddin suggested that Ibrahim Ali should be probed under the Sedition Act.[39]
During the Chinese New Year celebration organised by Perkasa in February 2012, Perkasa presidentIbrahim Ali was reported distributing RM10,000 packed in "white-colouredangpows" to ethnic-Chinese senior citizens. This has angered many ethnic-Chinese in Malaysia of touching the sensitivities of the Chinese. In Chinese culture, money given out in white packets is traditionally-associated with the 'pak kam' (white gold), which are donations given out at funerals. His actions has received heavy criticisms fromMalaysian Chinese leaders such as MCA Young Professionals Bureau chief DatukChua Tee Yong, MCA Youth secretary-general DatukChai Kim Sen and MCA Youth chief Datuk DrWee Ka Siong, with many described the president's actions as "disrespectful" and "insensitive".Ibrahim Ali then eventually expressed regret for not being aware of the cultural taboo of the Malaysian Chinese and added that such mistakes could be avoided, giving an excuse that they have run out of red-coloured ang pows.[40][41]
On 12 December 2012, Perkasa chief DatukIbrahim Ali commented that of late theMalaysian Chinese have been playing up political sentiments and accused the country's second-largest ethnic group of forgotten how living in Malaysia is "like heaven". He also commented that the Chinese community will become a national security threat which would result in racial riots similar to the13 May incident if it grows more powerful economically and politically.[42]
On 12 May 2011, its presidentIbrahim Ali launched a crusade against Christians if the community proceeds with its agenda to replace Islam as Malaysia's official religion, criticising them as being ungrateful people, during a speech organised by the Kommuniti 1 Malaysia in Kampung Changkat, Gombak, Selangor, which was attended by several UMNO leaders. His called for a holy war against Christians after a news report fromUtusan Malaysia claiming that the Christians andDAP had a conspiracy of turning Malaysia into a Christian country. In response, the DAP had criticised the Malaysian government for its refusal to apprehend Ibrahim Ali for his seditious remark, declaring this as a proof that UMNO is backing the Perkasa leader, with DAP Secretary-GeneralLim Guan Eng describing Perkasa as an "alter ego" of UMNO. Meanwhile,Gerakan president Tan Sri DrKoh Tsu Koon called for a full investigation into all of Ibrahim's speeches made, commented that the leader was "uncouth" and in clear violation of the concept of "1Malaysia".[43]
On 21 January 2013, Perkasa again courted intense public outrage whenIbrahim Ali called on Muslims to burn Malay-language bibles which use the term "Allah" in their texts.[44] Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali had made a call during the Perkasa convention inPermatang Pauh,Penang, urging Muslims to burn the Malay language version of the Christian Holy Bibles that contain the words "Allah" and other religious Arabic words written in Jawi. He then threatened that he would quit supporting theBarisan Nasional after receiving criticisms from leaders ofMCA andMIC. He then added that he did not intend to offend the Christians and instigating racial and religious tension but as a solution to prevent an alleged conversion of Muslims by evangelists. Responding to Ibrahim's remarks, MIC leader S. Vell Paari urged the government to punish the right-wing Perkasa president or face the possibility of losing its non-Muslim votes.[45] This has resulted inIbrahim Ali's alleged statement being investigated under the Sedition Act by the Malaysian police after several police reports lodged.[46]
On 29 March 2013, Perkasa vice-president andKulim-Bandar BaharuMPZulkifli Noordin has been heavily criticised by several Hindu politicians after giving a religious sermon belittlingHinduism. AYouTube video of the speech has been circulating on social media. In his speech, he explained how he laughed at the Indian traders on why theHindu gods could not prevent the trader's shop from being flooded. He also questioned the purity and holiness of theGanges River,India, which is considered sacred by the Hindus, claiming that the Ganges River is filled with chicken carcasses and twigs floating. Besides that, Zulkifli also mocked the Hindu godLord Ganesha, by questioning why the Hindus are fighting over buying the deity's statue with the trunk broken. He also questioned the holiness of the Hindu gods when he said when the broken parts of the statue can just be mended by plaster.[47]
The video clip has sparked outrage among many people from theMalaysian Hindu community.PKR vice-president and lawyerN. Surendran wants Zulkifli to be charged with Section 298A of the Penal Code for uttering words which causes disharmony, feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will on grounds of religion. He added that Zulkifli is a close ally withMalaysian Prime MinisterDatuk SeriNajib Tun Razak, in which he described thatUMNO andBarisan Nasional must take responsibility for the sacrilegious remarks and mockery of Hinduism.[48]
MIC central working committee member Datuk T. Rajagopalu told Zulkifli to "shut up" and apologise for his insensitive remarks against the Hindus. He added that Zulkifli is unfit to be an MP, describing the lawyer as a half-baked lawyer and not a true Muslim man. MIC vice-president Datuk S.K. Devamany also demanded that Zulkifli apologise and withdraw his remarks. Aside from them, MIC central working committee member P. Kamalanathan condemned Zulkifli's remarks "in the harshest manner possible." Human rights groupSUARAM also rebuked Zulkifli and urged voters to reject him in the upcomingMalaysian 13th general elections.[49] Hindu Sangam chief said that no legal action were taken against Zulkifli because he is a Muslim and vice-president of Perkasa.[50]
Zulkifli later apologised on 1 April 2013 for hurting the feelings of the Indian community,[51] but only days later another video clip emerged in which Zulkifli was caught uttering the word "Keling" during a speech, a word deemed to be extremely offensive towards ethnic Indians.[52]
Perkasa expressed protest and opposed any attempts to bring the remains of the former secretary-general of theMalayan Communist PartyChin Peng back to Malaysia. Ibrahim Ali said that he will never allow Chin Peng to return to Malaysian regardless whether he is alive or dead. He also said any record of Chin Peng should be erased from the annals of the country's history and kept from the eyes of the younger generation, adding that Chin Peng's remains should be "tossed into the air".[53] Perkasa secretary-general Syed Hassan Syed Ali warnedMCA not to upset the Malays by insisting that the Malaysian government should allow Chin Peng's remains to be brought back to Malaysia.[54]
Perkasa president DatukIbrahim Ali has warned of another race riot if the majority of the Malays remained in poverty, praising Prime Minister of Malaysia Datuk SeriNajib Razak of making the right decision by implementing the new RM31bil Bumiputera Economic Empowerment Plan (BEEP) intended to increase the economic status of the Malays. He said that the13 May riots occurred because the Malays were not satisfied. Many critics say that the programme has further entrenched race-based policies and inhibit Malaysia's economic competitiveness which then results in a huge brain drain of many non-Malays.[55]
On 17 October 2013, Perkasa president DatukIbrahim Ali urged Prime Minister of Malaysia Datuk SeriNajib Tun Razak to ban the Malay language bible in Malaysia, commenting that the government had been too compromising and give in to the demands of the Christians in Malaysia as they are not satisfied enough because the Christians insisted on using the word "Allah" in the bible, which he claims that "Allah" can only be used by Muslims in Malaysia. He added that the Malays had been "trodden and spat on" by "ungrateful Christians" and demanded the government to ban the Malay language bible as a retaliation. He resorted to name-calling by describingDAP Secretary GeneralLim Guan Eng as a "pig" for defending the Christians right to use the word "Allah" in the bible. He also mocked the Christians saying that the Christians insisted that they use the word "Allah" because they had no name for their own God.[56]
On 9 July 2010, the group was labelled 'militant' by former US Ambassador to MalaysiaJohn Malott.[57]
The group has been criticised by former parliamentary leader of the oppositionLim Kit Siang fromDemocratic Action Party (DAP) ofPakatan Rakyat, for re-using the religion, race and nationalism card when it's been "proven obsolete and irrelevant in bringing progress and change to Malay social and economic development". It had the tacit support of the former Prime Minister of Malaysia Datuk Seri Mahathir Mohamed when the latter attended its inauguration ceremony.[58]
StateParti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan) official and lawyer Baljit Singh has condemned Perkasa as the Malaysian version of the white American supremacist movementKu Klux Klan, which openly advocates racism, religious extremism and fascism. He added that Perkasa incites racial hatred and social disharmony by threatening to wage aholy war against Christians and other ethnic and religious minorities in Malaysia.[59]
Perkasa had also received backlash from two ethnic-ChineseBarisan Nasional leaders, namelyPenangGerakan chief Datuk Teng Hock Nan andMCA deputy secretary Loh Chew June, whom they labelled the right-wing Malay group as "racists". Perkasa Youth Chief Arman Azha Abu Hanifah then demanded apology from the duo. Loh responded that he did not need apology as Perkasa's actions were to segregate everyone and hampering the concept of '1Malaysia' mooted byMalaysian Prime MinisterNajib Razak. Loh also lambasted its presidentIbrahim Ali for flashing the 'keris' (Malay dagger) during the group's congress which may stoke racial tension in Malaysia.[60]
Perkasa, a group with about 700,000 members that campaigns for the rights of ethnic Malay Muslims
Ibrahim claimed that 60% of its members were Umno members while its younger members were not politically-affiliated. Perkasa brushed off Umno's statement that the largest component party in the Barisan Nasional neither needs nor has ties with Perkasa. "We have no ties to sever with Umno as we do not have ties in the first place," its founder Datuk Ibrahim Ali said.
Tengku Adnan said that most Perkasa leaders were defeated in the last Umno elections and had sought a political platform for them to be heard. "They are not wanted in Umno, they are no more leaders, they are just ordinary members. Umno has nothing to do with Perkasa," he said, adding that the party would not back Ibrahim in the next general election.
Tengku Adnan reminded Perkasa leaders that BN had to address the needs of all racial groups in the country. In response, Ibrahim snapped back, saying that 60% of Perkasa members were UMNO members. He is also mulling the possibility of political cooperation with other parties in the subsequent election.(Source: Umno rejects Perkasa, The Star, 9 Sept 2010)
