I’m not Perkasa’s patron but I support their views, Dr M says

By admin-s On Jan 19, 2015

(MMO) – “I must admit that I do support their views. Especially when it comes to reacting against extremist views of the non-Malays.”

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today denied a news report claiming he has “parted ways” with Perkasa, saying he still supports the controversial Malay rights group’s views although he never had any formal affiliations with it.

In a blog post this afternoon to rebut the news, the former prime minister said there was no basis to the claim that he had distanced himself from Perkasa because he had grown “uneasy with the group’s direction”.

His only link to Perkasa, the influential former Umno president said, is that he “may” have shared some of his ideas with the group in the past, and that some of his thoughts may have coincided with theirs.

“For starters, I am not formally attached to them,” Dr Mahathir wrote. “However, I must admit that I do support their views.

“Especially when it comes to reacting against extremist views of the non-Malays.”

Dr Mahathir, who was Malaysia’s longest serving prime minister, said during his 22-year tenure in office, groups like Perkasa never existed.

Today, he said, Perkasa’s birth was only due to the rise in “extremist views among the non-Malays” who he said have openly questioned Malay rights and privileges.