NGOs fighting for the rights of residents affected by the Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) project in Pengerang, Johor, today sought to enlist the aid of a well-known and outspoken Malay-rights champion to rally to their cause.

NONE Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali ( right, in purple ) was approached by two representatives of the NGOs, accompanied by Bakri MP Er Teck Hwa ( second from left, standing ), as he was resting in the MPs lounge in Parliament today.

The MP, who was about to have a smoke, was approached by the representatives of Gabungan NGO Pengerang, led by vice-president Hasnul Ahmad.

At first, Ibrahim was reticent as the matter was outside of his constituency and he was unfamiliar with it.

"But I am Pasir Mas MP... Where is Pengerang? What is the issue? Is it about compensation? I don't know this issue, do you have a memorandum? I have to study this first," was his first response.

azlan Hasnul acknowledged that the matter was outside of Ibrahim's constituency but explained that they understand that the parliamentarian is also president of the pro-Malay rights NGO Perkasa and hoped that the organisation would come to the defense of the residents.

For a short while the representatives conferred with the independent MP and explained to him briefly the crux of their problem.

Ibrahim was observed taking down notes and the phone numbers of the representatives, after which Hasnul also invited him to come down to Pengerang to discuss the matter further with them.

Ibrahim, however, said that he is going back to visit his constituency this weekend, but promised that he will discuss the matter at the next Perkasa meeting and will see how his NGO can assist the Pengerang folks.