Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (PUTRA) held a launching ceremony at the Kelab Sultan Sulaiman fields yesterday. There were 5,000 white chairs laid out on the field and by the look, it may have been filled up with yellow colours looking well with the city skyline.
The timing of their launch is exactly two weeks after the Himpunan Perpaduan Ummah (#HPU914), which culminated into signing of the Piagam Muafakat National between UMNO and PAS to end decades of political animosity.
Naturally, there were critics coming from UMNO and maybe PAS members and supporters that the launch of yet another Malay, Muslim based political party will further divide the already politically divided Malay votes.
The general belief is it will further weaken the Malay majority presence and bargaining power in government.
The Protem President, Dato Ibrahim Ali, received the expected criticism that it is about him and it is yet another vehicle for his political comeback.
Well, an upcoming Malay Dignity Congress received similar criticism.
There are too many inconsistencies and ambiguities for them to claim #HPU914 as a semi-final and the Congress as final of a sporting competition.
For instance, Tun Dr Mahathir's presence will be seen as inconsistent with the political positions he adopted to win GE14 for PH whether the excuse to Save Malaysia is right or proven right.
The pudding failed the test.
Returning to Ibrahim Ali.
Since being sacked from UMNO during Pak Lah leadership for running against the party while still a member during a by-election, the UMNO constitution could not allow for his return to UMNO.
He had justifiable cause to be angry for the unfair "removal" from an elected post as UMNO Divisional Head of Pasir Mas. However, it should have been vented through other avenue since the restriction is set in stones.
Ibrahim must be of immense political value for UMNO Supreme Council to consider taking him back. It is not withstanding his political rival, Tan Sri Anuar Musa is the current Secretary General.
To set the record straight, PUTRA is not likely a platform for Ibrahim to make a comeback.
The constituency he is associated with is Pasir Mas. Having being perceived by PAS voters as betraying them, he subsequently failed to defend the seat as independent with UMNO giving way.
He did not run at GE14. Consider him retired.
To be fair, PUTRA has every right to form a political party and now that they are officially registered could run in any election.
And Ibrahim has stated that PUTRA will run should MCA be representing BN in the Tanjong Piai by-election.
PUTRA's seemed to be taking a pro-Malay, pro-Islam and anti-DAP stance. It could be questioned as to why they decide to take a rather anti-MCA stance.
Supporting PPBM Malay candidacy equate to keeping DAP in control. If PUTRA is deadset against DAP, then they should bring doen DAP in Seputih for the next GE?
Actually, if PPBM defend the seat, perhaps the presence of Ibrahim's party to split Malay votes will help Wee Jeck Seng win.
Ibrahim was invited into PPBM in its early stage and played his role for Mahathir. However he refused to bow to the plan to work with DAP. It was a matter of principle.
He is considered a smart politician able to place himself on political platforms to bounce back after any downfall ever since his days at ITM, BERJASA Youth, Dato Mohamed Nasir crisis in Kelantan, Semangat 46, UMNO, PERKASA and PUTRA.
During GE-14 campaign, Ibrahim was critical of Dato Najib.
As PERKASA President, he made some critical statements against Najib with regard to 1MDB.
He got PERKASA endorsement by a presentation on 1MDB from an Engineer, whose a member of MTEM, using Sarawak Report, The Edge, WSJ and other foreign media sources.
MTEM is an economic research NGO that is supposed to champion the Malay economic cause. There closely linked to Mahathir then.
In view of the repeated mention of Taek Jho Low and Nik Faisal in the 1MDB and SRC case, respectively, Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah should submit a request to the court to subpoena them both.
Failing to do, it means the case should be suspended indefinitely.
MTEM must have felt then that it served the Malay interest.
They must agree that the Malay economic interest and rights are now far better served with cases related to 1MDB piled up against against UMNO leaders, divisions, individuals linked to UMNO and related NGOs
The former leader of MTEM is now appointed on Mahathir's the National Economic Action Committee, has his own consultancy firm, and seemed to have dissociated himself from MTEM.
It would seemed that only he benefit and the cause he stood for is already in the bin.
That is the perception and left to be denied.
The problem with Malay NGOs and organisation including political organisation is that they often astray from the establishment objective due to political expediency or self interest.
Another problem is the rather predictable manner members think and their expectation of outcome despite the changing senario and conditions.
At times, they are too predictable in their thinking, cliche in their words, and limited in the ability to plan ahead. Often the case, they fail to balance between ideology and practicality with consistency to ethics and morality. P
UMNO is a large organisation and should not fear PUTRA's presence.
PUTRA will have their purpose and role in accordance with the element of time and situation.
Just do not emulate the hypocrasy of like Mahathir, who went to bed with his mortal enemies DAP, PKR and PAS splinter group, to end up whining for unable to get his dictatorial ways.
PUTRA could be Ibrahim Ali doing a political makeover of PERKASA, which made strategic and tactical mistakes.
However, it must create its own role. Ibrahim would likely be positioning PUTRA as the voice of the conservative right Malays. They could serve as check and balance on BN or PPBM from straying away from the Malay and Islamic cause.
To do so, PUTRA need the right narrative and arguments. It has to upgrade itself from PERKASA, not the same cliche from UMNO of Tun Hussein Onn and Mahathir era, and justify their existence beyond regurgitating historical and constitutional arguments.
There must be research done with facts and figures to back it. It must not sound like the days with PERKASA or it will not emulate IPF the Indian party ability to sustain itself.
The public is fed-up with politics.
Voters will be attracted to party able to provide solutions to their daily problems of rising cost of living, graduate children's unemployment, job creation, developing economic opportunity, improving business condition, promote trade with other countries, better rubber and oil palm prices, rural development, poverty eradication, etc.
All problems arised from PH coming to power and instituted a Gerontocrasy government.
The days of making demand on government is over as PH government is insensitive and not concern with problems faced by people. They are obviously in a hurry to make hay while sunshine for themselves as #KerajaanSepenggal instead of governing.
If PUTRA could get itself out from the same ole, same ole cliched role of NGOs and political parties with their own programs to help the people, they may be taken seriously, win voters trust or even win seats.
UMNO or PAS or PPBM should not feel insecure with PUTRA's prersence. They are practisicing a right as prescribed in the constitution.