Independent Ibrahim leans towards Umno

Since the last general election, Ibrahim Ali has been a lone ranger in Parliament.

Being the sole independent parliamentarian in the peninsula, the representative of the people of Pasir Mas, a quiet town with a single KFC outlet in Kelantan, has lashed out at both Barisan Nasional and the opposition whenever he saw fit.

Known for his wisecracks, the former Umno leader was never short of controversies, including asking the Dewan Rakyat speaker why wheelchair-bound opposition leader Karpal Singh was given the privilege of asking questions while seated when the rest had to stand.

Today, Ibrahim, who contested under a PAS ticket in the last general election, conceded that his independence has tilted a little due to the leadership traits of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"I am an independent MP and willing to cooperate with any quarter. But I am more inclined now to support Umno under the present leadership as I am seeing positive signs," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby this afternoon.

However, Ibrahim turned down an invitation by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin for him to rejoin Umno, saying there was no urgency to do so.

"I am very grateful to the deputy prime minister and deputy president of Umno for saying that if I applied, my application would be considered," he said.

"But if I go back it would make me look like an opportunist as Umno is much stronger. Umno has become stronger under the leadership of the new president but I am willing to help and give any form of cooperation for the interest of the people and country, he added.

PAS needed my help, nothing more to it

Ibrahim said if the party becomes weak and is in need of assistance, then he would consider returning to Umno.

According to the Pasir Mas MP, the main reason why he is rejecting the invitation is because he is now an advocate of Malay NGO Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) and would like to remain neutral.

Ibrahim became an Umno member in 1981 but was sacked from the party for contesting as an independent candidate in the 2004 general election.

During his stint in Umno, Ibrahim was once a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department under the premiership of Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Meanwhile, the vocal politician claimed that he had contested under the PAS ticket in the last elections because the Islamic party was weak and requested his help.

"They invited me to contest under their flag (and) I agreed but any form of relationship between me and PAS ended after the general election... I never joined PAS," he stressed.