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Monday, February 17, 2014

I’m 1,000 times better than Anwar as prime minister, says Ibrahim Ali

Based on morals and behaviour, Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali has declared himself as more qualified to be prime minister than opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Malay rights group chief said he is a “1,000 times” better than the Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader.

"If you want a prime minister, and if you do not like anyone else, Ibrahim Ali can also be the prime minister," he said at Seamo-Recsam, Penang where he presented appointment letters to the new state Perkasa leadership committee today.

He said both he and Anwar are equals in terms of education qualification, and that they have also spoken on various platforms locally and internationally.

"So starting tomorrow, I am the prime minister (in-waiting), not Anwar. I just want to compete with Anwar, with others I do not care.

"I know I can be better than him. I know I can do the job better than him. He became popular during his youth because I was the organiser who promoted him behind the scenes in the 1970s when we were student leaders," he said.

The former Pasir Mas MP also took a swipe at Anwar, calling him "a first-class hypocrite", and criticising him of being overboard.

"I have to say all this for the interest of the nation. He is like an extraordinary human being and it is as if nobody else can challenge him.

"From his student days until now, all he does is making trouble for others. He gets everything but still he is not satisfied," he said.

Ibrahim drew laughs when he said he knew Anwar inside out but Anwar did not dare to mess with him as he was the fierce type.

He said Anwar preferred those with "smooth foreheads" (dahi licin).

On Perkasa as a political non-governmental organisation (NGO), Ibrahim said it is also popular and many want to join as members.

He said the accusations and labels hurled at Perkasa have helped made the NGO popular and formidable since it was formed five years ago.

"When we criticised Pakatan Rakyat (PR), we are accused of being Umno's tool. When we criticise Barisan Nasional, PR says nothing.

"We state our stand. We praise what is good and object against what is not. That is the work of an NGO. So what if some of us have good relationship with Umno? If Penang Perkasa wants to be friends with PAS and the DAP-led government, it is also all right," he said.

Ibrahim said Perkasa's agenda focuses on national issues, such as upholding the Federal Constitution that has been the foundation of Malaysia's development and the peace enjoyed by its people of different races for years.

He said the NGO is not against anyone but it will not compromise or tolerate anyone when it comes to defending the Constitution.

"We will not be afraid or be apologetic about it," he said, adding that Perkasa has an important role to play these days, especially with racial and religious issues being politicised.

Later at a press conference, Ibrahim said he is not interested in contesting in Kajang against Anwar.

He said the by-election is a political game that is not for the interest of the people and suggested that the Election Commission should make it a ruling that those contesting for state seats must be locals born in the state.

He said such a ruling will prevent "power crazy" people from moving from state to state to satisfy their own political desires.

Ibrahim also said Perkasa does not condone rowdy behaviour or actions that violate the law.
"It is not our culture. There are many opportunists doing such things today. We should not resort to such actions even if our opinions are different.

"Perkasa does not even organise protests like Bersih," he said when asked to comment on an incident last month in Teluk Bahang when one of Penang Perkasa leaders Mohd Rizuad Mohd Azuddin was detained and remanded in relation to the assault on southwest district assistant district officer Abu Hassan Omar during an enforcement exercise to demolish abandoned structures.

Ibrahim said it has since been cleared up that Rizuad had no part in the incident except trying to break up the scuffle and stop a group of angry people from roughing up Abu Hassan.

"I have warned all Perkasa members that they are not to break any laws. I have no reservations about having the police take action on any person who violates the law.

"Sometimes we cannot avoid having one or two errant members who act on their own accord," he said, adding that the organisation should not be blamed.

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