UMNO VS PERKASA: A MATTER OF INTERPRETATION

Fiery and unabashed, Ibrahim said he would not care what others thought of Perkasa so long as the organization did not stray from its objectives which were to champion and struggle for the Malays, Islam and country. “Until today, Perkasa has not wavered from its objectives and if UMNO leaders and BN component parties think Perkasa is racial, prove it. Check how many police reports have been lodged against Perkasa for being racist or contain element of racism?” he asked. Ironically, UMNO’s constitution also stipulated the same objective put in the same words. Thus, UMNO or Perkasa, for the Malays, it is only a matter of interpretation or perspective on which side one looks at matters.




Zainal Ahmad
Sept 24, 2010



One is a long established political party which has become an institution for the Malays and the other is a newly-formed non-governmental organization (NGO) - also for the Malays.

The first one is maneuvering cautiously so as not to lose its contents and influence while the other is ‘rolling like a German panzer’ running down whatever exist in its path.

Thus are the differences between UMNO and Perkasa, but one thing that both cannot deny is that they have similar objectives put in the same words – champion the cause of the Malays and protect the rights and privileges of the Malays. And both the organizations are now ‘locking horns’ as the race to gain influence is going at a fast pace with the general election approaching nearer.

For UMNO retaining its influence among the Malays is vital for its survival as other BN component parties are ‘virtually defunct’ in trying to gain influence among other races.
Perkasa’s existence has in one way or another loosen the party’s grip on the Malays and the continuous erosion of trust and confidence would not be good for UMNO.

UMNO members, although still in the party, are also members or at the least supporting Perkasa for being vocal in defending issues related to Malays rights and privileges as stipulated in the Federal Constitution.

UMNO, formed before Independence with the sole objective of gaining Independence and championing and protecting the rights of the Malays is now facing a new challenge to its existence.

Perkasa, formed in 2009, to provide platform for the Malays in voicing their rights amidst demands for ‘free enterprise’ in the country’s policies following the dismal performance of Barisan Nasional (BN) in March 2008 general election, is fast gaining popularity.

The reason is simple - members of Perkasa claimed UMNO has lost its ‘sense of direction’ as the Malay-based party is getting more moderate in its approaches, sidelining the very purpose it was first formed.

As the claim is debatable depending on which side one is looking at, UMNO claims it still champions the Malay cause and protecting the rights of the Malays but in a different form in accordance to the time and a multi-racial background.

A recent ‘verbal onslaught’ by UMNO secretary-general who is also BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor against Perkasa had further ‘strain’ the relationship between a Malay-based political party seeking or rather ‘trying to sustain trust and confidence of the Malays’ and Perkasa, now considered as the biggest Malay NGO.

Adding credibility to Perkasa is the direct support from former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is still respected and highly regarded as a statesman by the Malays and non-Malays alike. He commented that UMNO could not do it alone in the coming general election as it needed to work together with NGOs or other Malay-based political parties.

In this regard, everybody in the right mind or rather rational mind would think Perkasa, but UMNO president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had not even make any insinuation on this matter.

Dr Mahathir, though out of mainstream politics, is still very much in touch with the Malays’ feelings and pulse and much of his thoughts through his writings in his blog or statements made in events he officiated have always being watched, deciphered, interpreted and so on depending on one’s interest.

And in this case between UMNO and Perkasa, many UMNO and Perkasa members opined that Dr Mahathir wanted UMNO to co-operate with Perkasa, being the biggest Malay NGO and with an estimation of some 80 percent of its 200,000 members being UMNO members and leaders.

Headed by MP for Pasir Mas, Kelantan, Datuk Ibrahim Ali, Perkasa is now seen as a ‘threat’ by UMNO as well as component parties of BN for its stand on Malay rights and privileges.

Fiery and unabashed, Ibrahim said he would not care what others thought of Perkasa so long as the organization did not stray from its objectives which were to champion and struggle for the Malays, Islam and country. “Until today, Perkasa has not wavered from its objectives and if UMNO leaders and BN component parties think Perkasa is racial, prove it. Check how many police reports have been lodged against Perkasa for being racist or contain element of racism?” he asked.

Ironically, UMNO’s constitution also stipulated the same objective put in the same words. Thus, UMNO or Perkasa, for the Malays, it is only a matter of interpretation or perspective on which side one looks at matters.

The ‘verbal onslaught’ by Tengku Adnan and Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Tan Sri Aziz had, in one way or another, some effect on Perkasa’s popularity as well as UMNO’s support from the Malays.

Taken in the political context, an UMNO member from Teluk Intan Ahmad Jadawi Ghazali said UMNO has to decide its direction. “The party cannot be pursuing its objectives while trying to satisfy other races. As a Barisan Nasional backbone, yes…the party leaders who are national leaders must be fair to all citizens but at the same time, the party must not lose sight of its objectives which are to champion the Malay cause.

“Right now the leadership are pursuing other things rather than strengthening the party from within which is very important for the coming general election,” he said.

Padang Besar UMNO division chief Datuk Zahidi Zainal Abidin said UMNO need to know its direction and where it stood before making enemies of the largest Malay NGO at the present moment. “There is no point making enemies of organizations that support UMNO and BN.
“Know which direction the party is heading first and then move in that direction. Right now the party seems to be heading neither here nor there,” he said.

Thus, from the looks of it, UMNO may not do itself any good by distancing from Perkasa as 80 percent of Perkasa’s 200,000 registered members at present are UMNO members and these members are influential in their own ways. -malaysiaaktif.com