Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali has denied a news report claiming that former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has parted ways with the Malay right-wing movement.

He said Mahathir would always support Perkasa, "now and forever".

Ibrahim also clarified that Mahathir was never appointed as patron of Perkasa as reported by the media.

He was responding to news portal The Malaysian Insider , which quoted a source, claiming that Mahathir was unhappy with Perkasa’s recent behaviour and therefore severed ties with the movement.

The report cited the source as stating that Mahathir was uneasy with the group's direction.

"The source, who is a Perkasa leader, told the online portal that Mahathir was unhappy over how Perkasa triggered and handled racially sensitive issues, including Ibrahim's Bible-burning controversy, which had sparked outrage among the Christian community.

"The leader said that the group also did not want to be associated with Mahathir, although it had great respect for the elder statesman," says The Malaysian Insider report.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim told Malaysiakini that it was Mahathir who launched Perkasa’s first annual general meeting in 2009.

"We did not invite him after that as we wanted to give other leaders an opportunity.

"They (the news portal) is always hitting at Perkasa. Why didn’t they not ask me? I am the president.

"I challenge them to go ask Mahathir himself if it is true we have parted ways," Ibrahim said.

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