Dr M says Perkasa champions Malay rights due to weak Umno
Malay rights movement Perkasa is fighting for the community’s rights now because Umno is not doing its job, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.
He defended non-governmental organisations (NGO) like Perkasa existence as necessary if the ruling coalition is unable to protect the country’s main community.
“Why were there no Malays NGOs in the past, only now? I say there are so many now because there is an erosion of confidence in Umno as a protector of their fate,” the outspoken Dr Mahathir said when opening Perkasa’s first annual general meeting here today.
“They are of the opinion that if Umno cannot protect them, they must protect themselves,” he added, drawing loud applause from the floor.
Dr Mahathir observed that the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government was being bombarded by loud demands from all quarters for a bigger slice of the economic pie, which distressed the Malays who were worried about their position.
