Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali denies his Malay-rights NGO shares the same vision and ideology as Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, despite sharing a similar name.

He told a press conference at his office today there are stark differences between the two organisations, as an NGO and a political party.

"Of course in the beginning I expected Bersatu to be similar to Perkasa, with the exception that Bersatu is a political party and Perkasa is an NGO.

"But when Bersatu was founded and even before the party’s first official general assembly it has declared support for DAP, then immediately the difference between us became like the 'earth and the sky'," he said.

For Bersatu to support DAP, Ibrahim claimed, would require it to forsake basic principles which formed the core of Perkasa's struggles - working towards uniting the bumiputera who are primarily Malay-Muslim.

Ibrahim said Perkasa's role is in line with other race-based NGOs such as Dong Zong that champions issues affecting the Chinese community.

Ibrahim, meanwhile, also referred to a Malaysiakini report yesterday that quoted an anonymous Bersatu source who dismissed rumours surrounding his membership in the party.

The source, commenting on speculations by Utusan Malaysia's Awang Selamat yesterday, said the issue of Ibrahim's membership does not arise as the party still shares the same vision as Perkasa.

Dismissing claims of the shared vision as lies and slander, Ibrahim said: "When Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia was formed, PBBM in short, the name is similar to Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia.

"So in the beginning, many thought Perkasa and Bersatu was one entity, and yesterday Malaysiakini reported that the two shared the same vision," he said.

"This will bring about a negative impact. Very confusing and can be interpreted as slander, lies, because the news did not name the source," Ibrahim said.

The veteran politician added that such rumours may be started by people who are unhappy with his decision to reject their invitation, likening the situation to a man who went around a village badmouthing a woman who spurned him.

'Perkasa to meet on Nov 19'

While noting that the Bersih 5 rally and its counter rally by Umno-linked red shirts would be held on Nov 19, Ibrahim also announced that Perkasa would go ahead with its 7th Annual General Assembly on the same date.

"The Wira and Wiranita Perkasa assemblies would be held on Nov 19 at a hotel here, while the main assembly would be on Nov 20 at Stadium Titiwangsa," he said.

He added that the date had been chosen months in advance due to difficulties in securing a venue.