Formation | 2008 |
---|---|
Type | Malay supremacy, Malayisation, extreme-right, ultra-nationalism, Islamonationalism, Cultural chauvinism |
Purpose | protect Article 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia, defend the rights of Bumiputera from being eroded, defend the rights of the Malays 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 its acronym: Perkasa), is a Malay supremacist[1] non-governmental organisation (NGO) that was formed by Ibrahim Ali in the aftermath of the 2008 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 to Ibrahim Ali, are to act as "protectors of Article 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia" and to defend the rights of Bumiputera from being eroded by certain quarters.[4] Perkasa is said to be fighting and defending the rights of the Malays which they feel are being challenged by non-Malays in Malaysia.
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 a fascist organisation by MPs from the Malaysian federal opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in the past.[7]
In September 2010, Ibrahim Ali claimed that 60% of Perkasa members were United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) members.[8] However, both Ibrahim Ali and UMNO's secretary-general Tengku 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 in 2018 general election (GE14), going head-to-head against UMNO.[11] In 2018, after the GE14 which saw the downfall of Barisan Nasional (BN) and UMNO government, Ibrahim Ali finally founded Parti 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]
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)