Despite being seen as one of the organisation’s most stalwart supporters and even its patron, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad might have decided to no longer be associated with controversial Malay-Muslim rights group Persatuan Pribumi Perkasa (Perkasa).
Since its inception in 2008, Perkasa has been championing the cause of Malay supremacy in Malaysia – or in its words, “the defence of Article 153 of the Federal Constitution”, which guarantees the “special position” of the Malay and Bumiputera communities. The organisation and its founder, Ibrahim Ali, have been courting controversy over their repeated racialist remarks on local issues.
A source told The Malaysian Insider‘s Md Izwan that Mahathir was unhappy over how Perkasa chose to handle several sensitive racial issues, and even instigated a few stand-offs, such as when Ibrahim proposed to burn Bahasa Malaysia Bibles which contained the word “Allah”, a move that enraged Malaysia’s Christian community.
The source, a leader in the Perkasa hierarchy, also said the organisation did not want to be associated with Dr Mahathir, despite it having great respect for the former PM.
“We hope no one links Tun M’s (Dr Mahathir’s) opinions with Perkasa, and do not link Perkasa’s actions with Tun M,” the source said.
“Both parties have no ties with one another, although we respect Tun M and believe that he has supported much of what Perkasa has championed for.”
The last time Mahathir was seen interacting with Perkasa was during a meeting with the group last November. Mahathir did not attend Perkasa’s 5th Annual General Meeting in December for health reasons, althogh the source intimated that Mahathir chose not to attend the summit due to his displeasure during the November meeting.
“During the meeting with Perkasa, Dr Mahathir had scolded them rather sternly,” said the source, who claimed to have been present at the meeting.
“It is inevitable that there are some things which Perkasa does that makes Tun M uneasy, but he rarely reproaches us because he knows he has no right to determine Perkasa’s direction.”
The source also denies that Mahathir was ever a patron of the organisation, although he stressed that Perkasa respected Mahathir’s influence and contributions to the Malay community.
