KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 ― Right wing Malay group Perkasa has said that its members come from both sides of the political divide and from abroad.
The Star reported Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali as saying that Perkasa accepted members from all political affiliations as they did not want to see the Malays “divided by political ideologies”.
“I do not know why people associate Perkasa with Umno when we have members from PAS as well as PKR,” Ibrahim was quoted as saying by local daily, The Star.
“Even the mother of Teluk Intan DAP candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, Yammy Samat, was our first Perkasa Wanita Chief.”
He was referring to the DAP’s candidate in the Teluk Intan by-election, who recently admitted that her mother played a role in the founding and once asked her to help with the group’s activity.
Ibrahim will head to London this weekend to officiate Perkasa’s British club.
He was quoted as saying that members comprised students and people working there.
“Although they are studying and working abroad, they are supporting our movement that is aimed at protecting natives’ rights,” Ibrahim said.
Perkasa began life in 2008 as a one-man pressure group on Malay rights but later grew in numbers and influence after its cause found traction with a largely-Umno audience.
The ubiquity of Umno members among its ranks also led to the perception that the group was an indirect outlet for the more conservative elements of the party.
