Controversial Malay rights organisation Perkasa has no links whatsoever with the government, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz.

NONE He said the government was not involved in the formation of the conservative front, which is led by BN-friendly Independent MP for Pasir Mas, Ibrahim Ali.

"The organisation is an NGO and is in no way related to the Malaysian government," said Nazri ( right ) in a written reply to PKR's Tanah Merah MP Amran Abdul Ghani in Parliament.

"This issue has no bearing on the question of whether or not the government is capable of looking out for the Malays, because Malaysia is a government for all and will look out for the rights of all Malaysians."

Amran had asked to what extent the government is involved in setting up Perkasa and whether or not it is an indication that the government is unable to protect Malay interests.

Rumours have been rife of a behind-the-scenes pact between Perkasa and the BN, particularly its lead party Umno, in a bid to whip up a frenzy of Malay support in their favour.

Fuel was added to the rumour mill with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's flirtations with the right-wing NGO, most recently at the Bumiputera Economic Congress late last month, organised by the Malay Consultative Council spearheaded by Perkasa.

The perceived close association however has made Umno's BN partners uneasy, particularly its second largest component MCA, which called for BN to sever all ties with Perkasa or face greater losses in non-Malay support.