The half million-member strong Umno Veterans Club has thrown its weight behind Perakasa, the NGO with the avowed aim of safeguarding the rights and aims of the Malay community.

The leaders of the parent body are divided in their support for Perkasa and had shied away from officially committing Umno to the Malay NGO as that would contradict Prime Minister Najib Razak's 1Malaysia concept which embraces all Malaysians.

NONE A group of national veteran leaders lead by acting national chief Mohd Zaid Sirat ( right ) held a media conference at Perak Umno headquarters in Ipoh yesterday afternoon to announce their stand.

Zaid denied that Perkasa was a racist organisation as claimed by many BN leaders and the public.

"They are just protecting the social contract and the rights and interests of the Malay community as enshrined in the federal constitution," he said.

He added that club would not only support Perkasa but all pro-government NGOs which profess similar aims.

The club's leaders were all praise for Perkasa leader Ibrahim Ali's firmness in adhering to the aims of his NGO. Zaid also said that other races should not set pre-conditions for the national unity programme.

The club was founded in 2003 and officially launched by then-prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2006.

Zaid said that 30 percent of 3.25 million Umno members aged 60 and above are members of the club.

The club has endorsed Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah as the candidate for the Kelantan state seat Galas by-election.

"We do not think that it is a humiliation for Ku Li who is the Gua Musang MP to contest the state seat as claimed by (PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Menteri Besar) Nik Aziz Nik Mat," he said.