-M. Kulasegaran, MP., January 25, 2015.

Mahathir will do the nation a good service if he will advise Perkasa to stop its extremist politics and baseless attacks on others

A few days ago, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that Perkasa would not have existed had it not been for the rise in extremist views among the non-Malays.

He said non-Malays questioned Malay rights and privileges when Malays themselves did not question the rights of non-Malays nor denied the privileges accorded them in the constitution.

Mahathir’s remarks were totally wrong, unfair and unacceptable.

Perkasa came into being after the 2008 general election because they thought they could help to keep Umno power.

BN and Umno suffered electorally in the 2008 as well as the subsequent 2013 general elections simply because voters had wanted a political change, not because of extremism or rise in extremism of non Malays.

Perkasa’s strategy to help keep Umno power is simple – to play the fear tactic that the rights of Malays and Bumitputra are under attack.

But it is untrue that the non Malays have been attacking the rights of the Malays and Bumiputras. In fact, it is the extreme Perkasa which has been attacking the non Malays.

Recently, it was reported that Perkasa youth chief Irwan Fahmi Ideris has questioned theconstruction of Sri Lalithambikai Alayam Hindu temple in Putrajaya.

Malaysia is a multi religious nation and the temple construction is certainly not a rise ofIndian extremism. Will Mahathir slam Perkasa just like federal territories Minister Tengku Adnan did?

In November last year, Perkasa and some Malay groups suggested that only bumiputra students should be exempted from repaying the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN).

Such attempt to racialise PTPTN repayment is certainly extremism. Again, where was the non Malays ‘extremism on PTPTN issue that made Perkasa take such an extreme and racist stand?

In November 2013, after some non Muslim parents complained that it was insensitive and inappropriate for holding cow sacrifice ritual at SK Puchong Jaya, Deputy EducationMinister P Kamalanathan clarified that the slaughter of cows at the school in Selangor during Aidiladha was never allowed by the Education Ministry.

Perkasa then tried to turn it into a religious issue.

“The parliamentarian P Kamalanathan’s statement that the korban ceremony cannot be carried out in schools is an act that insults the Malays and all Muslims,” Perkasa Youth chief Irwan Fahmi Ideris wrote on his blog then.

So who is being extreme here, Perkasa who alleged that Kamalanathan insulted the Malays and Muslims or the Education Ministry which had never allowed the ritual in schools or the non Muslim parents who had complained that the holding of such ritual in school was insensitive?

Mahathir definitely knows the answer.

There are many more examples that can be cited to prove Perkasa’s extremism and itsunprovoked, baseless and unjustified attacks on non Malays.

Mahathir will do the nation a good service if he will advise Perkasa to stop its extremist politics and baseless attacks on others.