Perkasa Pushes BN Around: Not Bad for an NGO
On the same note, the Association of Former Umno Elected Representatives (Penawar) has demanded party secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor to apologise for his remarks on Perkasa citing that it is racist for the standing up to Malay rights.
Perkasa is a Malay rights non-profit organisation or at least that’s what it is in official terms. Pressure group would be a better term to describe Perkasa, and a very effective one at that.
Since it was founded, Perkasa has lobbied for the New Economic Policy (NEP) to favour Malays and Bumiputras. It also has defended a school principal for uttering racist remarks against Indians and Chinese while addressing her pupils. Furthermore, the NGO has lodged police reports against several politicians for proposing – not even implementing – ideas such as debating on Malay rights issues and reducing the 30 equity target for Malays and Bumiputras in the NEP Plan.
Does an NGO have such rights to push Barisan Nasional (BN) back and forth? Does an NGO have the authority to direct BN’s every move? A better question would be: is BN a victim of Perkasa or is BN happily putting up a show with Perkasa to gain Malay votes?
Inconsistencies and Contradictions
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said there is a need for fair policies and system under a principle of inclusiveness which is part and parcel of his 1Malaysia concept.
“Being inclusive means we have to ensure our policies benefit all Malaysians. We have to ensure that systems are fair, and that every single Malaysian can recognise his or her own value,” were his exact words.
Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said that the government wants to hear NGOs’ feedback so long they do not touch on sensitivities of any race of the country.
As mentioned earlier, Perkasa has made proposals that only benefit a single race. How is it that the government is so responsive to this particular NGO?
Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said at his Aidilfitri open house event said “In my view, Perkasa is not being provocative or encouraging people to hate each other unlike the outlawed Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).”
How is this fair and equal and inclusive of every race as the prime minister proposed several days earlier?
How Far Will BN Bend Over for Perkasa?
It seems like Perkasa was successful in pressuring Najib to say that the 1Malaysia concept is based on Malay privileges. In the pretext of Malay rights, Perkasa has been going against Najib’s economic reform which aim is to raise the country’s competitiveness on a global level. It doesn’t take a genius to point out that Perkasa’s only concern is for the rights and privileges of a single group of race while others can all be left to fend for themselves.
Umno had said that Perkasa has every right to do what they did. Its deputy permanent chairman Datuk Mohamed Aziz said “It’s just like the other non Malay-based organisations which fight for their respective community’s rights. We didn’t comment on it. It’s their right.”
Yes, Perkasa is an NGO therefore they have the right to defend their objectives. But why is it that, of late, BN have been allowing Perkasa to influence their policies and decisions? For instance, Malay rights groups led by Perkasa have voiced strident views against the NEM for its aims at making affirmative action more market-friendly until Najib was forced to backtrack and call the policy a “trial balloon”. Also, Perkasa has redefined Najib’s 1Malaysia by asking the latter to state clearly that the concept is based on Malay privileges.
Umno leaders were quick to tell MCA President Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek to think about BN and its multiracial component parties while fighting for the Chinese community. I wonder how quick BN will be in telling Umno to remember BN while fighting for the Malay rights groups.
On the same note, the Association of Former Umno Elected Representatives (Penawar) has demanded party secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor to apologise for his remarks on Perkasa citing that it is racist for the standing up to Malay rights.
Penawar said “If Tengku Adnan refused to do so, Penawar will demand that Tengku Adnan be removed as Umno secretary-general.”
Additionally, Penawar has urged Umno to cooperate with Perkasa and otherMalay NGOs. Like Perkasa, Penawar have no authority over BN. So why are they so powerful that they can demand for a politician to be removed? Will BN allow these organisations to dictate their decisions just so that they can woo majority voters?
Our leaders really need to fully explain to the people why they decide to act according to the desires of these groups whenever they do so.
Perkasa and Malay rights NGOs have every right to voice out their opinions but far will BN bend over backwards for these groups?
Perkasa Governs BN
If Perkasa’s demands are granted by BN, it’s crystal clear that our leaders are only concern about pleasing one section of the Malaysian population. If that’s the case, ‘1Malaysia’ will become ‘One Big Lie’. Everything that Najib and Chua Soi Lek have been advertising on the media about “all races”, “equality” and whatnot will be for nothing.
One thing BN should be aware of is this: granting Perkasa’s every whim and fancies may get them the Malay votes for the upcoming general election but they will also lose the votes of other races which is what they definitely need. Do they really think one can gain the support of the masses by wooing only one section of the population? Do you really think the rest of the masses will not stand up to Perkasa’s actions?
As far as pro multiracial Malaysia citizens like me are concerned, there would not be a need to worry about winning majority votes if a government truly implement policies in a way that benefit everyone and without any biasness towards a particular race or creed of its rakyat.
