Under attack from Malays, Perkasa retorts with name calling

Tan Sri Abdul Rasyid Abdul Rahman criticises Malays who have attacked Perkasa, during the Malay rights group's AGM in Kuala Lumpur today. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Kamal, December 13, 2014.Malay rights group Perkasa today took a swipe at its critics, particularly those from the Malay community who did not agree with their views and stands, calling them "blind" and "idiotic".

Perkasa vice-president Tan Sri Abdul Rasyid Abdul Rahman said the group is now being "tested" with attacks and criticisms from parties which are not aligned with them.

"Perkasa is being tested. When people start to attack, it means that people are scared of us and they will try to find space to ridicule what we are fighting for.

"I hope that those who are blind to Perkasa can open their eyes. They should not mock and ridicule us. More saddening is when there are Malays who are also criticising us.

"These are the idiotic Malays., and we need to have their minds changed," the former Election Commission (EC) chairman said in his speech at the opening of the annual Perkasa conference at the Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kuala Lumpur today.

"If (they) don't want to be with us, let them just watch what we can do," he added.

He said Perkasa was not enemies with any race or religion, instead it only explained the position of Malays and Islam as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

"We only carry out activities to defend our religion and strengthen the position of our race. That is all, we do not touch on the rights of others.

Abdul Rasyid noted that the leadership of Umno was becoming more "sick" day by day, adding that there were many changes the party ought to undertake.

"I don't hate Umno, but those in Umno have to understand that there are a lot of things that have to be changed.

"There is a youth leader but he does not seem to function. Don't walk like a duck, care for the youths," he said, referring to Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

Rasyid also said Perkasa has never had any intention to cause tensions but blamed Chinese-majority party DAP for triggering such sentiments.

"The DAP is one of the parties that causes tensions. They are trying to block the expansion of Islam," he added.

- TMI