KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 — Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali expressed his disappointment with Umno for snubbing an invitation to attend his Malay rights group’s annual general meeting today.

The former federal lawmaker said his non-government organisation had sent an invitation to the country’s nationalist Malay party twice, including by hand, but had not received any reply.

“Maybe they did not come because they were busy celebrating Christmas, including Umno,” he said in his opening speech to Perkasa delegates here.

Ibrahim said Perkasa had also invited other political parties, except for federal opposition DAP, to attend its assembly.

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But he also said Umno might have skipped out after learning that PAS representatives would be there, though it was unclear why he voiced that suggestion.

“Maybe they heard PAS was attending, so they didn't not want to attend. But we are happy other parties including PAS has sent their highest leaders to attend our assembly,” Ibrahim said.

PAS was represented at the Perkasa assembly by its secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan and elections director Datuk Mustafa Ali.

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Ibrahim added that it was the first time PAS has turned up for Perkasa’s assembly since its establishment six years ago and called for a standing ovation for the federal Islamist opposition party’s “progressive thinking leaders”.

Other parties who sent representatives included PPP and Parti Ikatan Rakyat.

Ibrahim stressed that the NGO had sent out invites to all political parties except for DAP, which Perkasa was against.

Former Umno supreme council member and retired federal minister Datuk Sanusi Junid was the guest of honour at the Perkasa main assembly today.

The Malay NGO had held the assemblies of its three wings, Wira, Wiranita and Wirawati yesterday.