Mukhriz Mahathir begs to differ with Umno’s move to distance themselves from Perkasa, saying that the two organisations shared the same struggle to uphold Malay rights.

The international trade and industry deputy minister said certain Umno leaders’ negative views on Perkasa were their "own opinions".

NONE "I'm not sure whether that statement of dissociation is the party's view.

"I for one, as a member of Umno, have my personal view on the subject matter," the son of Dr Mahathir Mohamad told reporters today at the former premier’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house function today.

"I feel that if Umno is a party that upholds Malay interest - then again never at the expense of others - we should share the views of the NGO," said Mukhriz ( right ).

He explained that since they shared similar “root struggles” there was thus no need for Umno to alienate Perkasa.

"I'm not a Perkasa member. But when they invite me for their functions, I try to attend to see what they have to say," he said.

When asked about the necessity for Perkasa when Umno performed the same tasks, Mukhriz replied, "I don't think we should tell others not to establish their own associations.

"Just as much as we don't block anyone else from association, I think we should grant the same freedom to Perkasa," he said.

ibrahim ali press conference at his home in taman melawati Mukhriz however said that it was equally wrong to say that Umno and Perkasa are the same, pointing out that Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali ( left ) does not hold back when criticising.

"We share the same sentiments, but their approach might be different," he stressed.

‘Don’t rob the rich’

He added that Perkasa should not be deemed an extremist movement as their demands were in keeping to the provisions in the federal constitution.

malaysia formula one race 170305 petronas team posing Mukrhiz said he agreed with Perkasa's claim that many rural Malays felt neglected.

"I know there are liberal Malays - not to say (this) in a negative connotation - who feel that we are able to stand on our own two feet already, and in many cases that's the case.

"But if you look at the rural areas and when we talk to their folk, that sentiment is prevalent," he said.

However, he asserts that the country’s policies should not rob the rich to aid the poor, in the style of Robin Hood.

"The issue about the 30 percent ( bumiputera ) equity - if you look at the NEP (New Economic Policy) it clearly states that the original wealth of the people, no matter who it belongs to, is left untouched.

"The NEP looks into a growing fraction of that (economic) pie... from the portion that grows 30 percent is hopefully distributed to the bumiputera, and the balance 70 percent of that is left untouched and yet even with that, we can only dispersed 19 percent.

"The government would not just take away the 70 percent from others and give it to the bumis ," said Mukhriz.

"We have never taken from Peter to pay Paul," he stressed.