Malay NGO Perkasa's maiden annual general meeting will kick off tomorrow, to be opened by none other than former premier and ‘Malaysian Maverick' Dr Mahathir Mohamad himself.

According to secretary-general Syed Hassan Syed Ali, the whole-day event will begin with a showcase of Malay traditional customs, including a silat performance by 200 people.

The AGM, which is expected to attract 8,000 people, will hold closed-door sessions after 2pm.

The sessions will include the selection of committee members, and motions on education, security, religion and the economy.

NONE The event and Perkasa's existence, was greeted by a slew of brickbats and bouquets, from a cross section of Parliament.

Umno stalwarts gave it a warm reception while Pakatan parliamentarians were lukewarm and even downright cold.

Umno's Padang Besar parliamentarian Azmi Khalid,for one is supportive of the organisation.

"Perkasa's existence is good because it fights for Malay rights and is the voice of the 'insecure' Malays."

He believes the organisation fills a vacuum existing in the current political scenario.

"The Malays are insecure,they feel that there is no one to fight for their rights.This is as opposed to other races.

"The Chinese are championed by the Dong Jiao Zong,whose fight for the Chinese language, education and other issues has become the shared platform for Chinese political parties.

"A platform like Perkasa is needed to address the insecurity of the Malays."

He reasoned that the current vacuum exists because of the failure of PAS and Umno, driving the Malays in droves into the open arms of a waiting Perkasa.

"PAS and Umno failed to articulate themselves properly as defenders of the Malay agenda. PAS and Umno are becoming more liberal.

PAS, because it has to work with other parties in Pakatan,while Umno has toned down."

NONE Asked if he would attend the AGM, Azmi ( right ) said he was invited but was tied down with important matters in his constituency.

"I would go otherwise. It is important to feel out Perkasa and see where they stand."

Meanwhile, parliamentarian Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (Umno-Pasir Salak) denied that Perkasa poses any threat to Umno as a bastion for the Malays and their agenda.

"They are an NGO, not a political party. They have their own platform, we have our own platform. Everyone stands on their own platform."

Like Azmi, he also sees Perkasa as a positive addition to Malaysia's political landscape.

"It is good if they can unite the Malays. Because the Malays are now fragmented with some Malays even working hand in hand with the enemies of the race."

Tajuddin added that he would attend the AGM.

'Don't attend'

On the flip side, PKR Balik Pulau parliamentarian Yusmadi Yusoff made it clear that in his opinion, no one from Pakatan should attend Perkasa's inaugural AGM.

"I urge all my other friends, not to go. Perkasa is not the choice of the rakyat. I am not going. It would not do to support an organisation that is not credible."

He also hit out at Perkasa, calling it the platform for Umno rejects who want to continue the Malay party's old agenda on which the rakyat has turned its back.

"Most of the Perkasa leadership in Penang are those Umno members who lost in divisional polls.

"Those are Umno people without a platform because their views contradict the new party line.

"In my view, Perkasa is the vehicle to continue Umno's old agenda."

Y hishamuddin rais yusmadi yusoff baljit singh suaram forum 110509 07 usmadi ( left ) reckoned that the NGO is doomed to fail, at least in Penang, because the people have rejected the party's old agenda and now have a more credible choice."

"Umno's old agenda has been rejected as was proven in the 2008 elections.

There is no place for them with the Penang Malays, because the people have seen that there are more credible choices. Pakatan Rakyat for one, provides a more convincing alternative."

Yusmadi's views was echoed by PAS Pokok Sena parliamentarian Mahfuz Omar, who belittled the so called 'widespread support' for the Malay NGO.

"There are not that many people supporting Perkasa," he said dismissively.