WILL IBRAHIM CONTEST AS BN-FRIENDLY CANDIDATE OR JUST INDEPENDENT

WILL IBRAHIM CONTEST AS BN-FRIENDLY CANDIDATE OR JUST INDEPENDENT

Perkasa is being picked by the opposition as a movement to watch come this general election as the movement has been very critical of any parties or groups against Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN).

Perkasa has in fact antagonised and ridiculed every opposition party and leaders and the movement has no qualms about hitting out at parties in BN whenever the party hit out at Malays or Islam.

Born out of the need to champion the Malay and Islamic cause at the time when Umno was at its lowest ebb in 2008, Perkasa led by Pair Mas MP who was a former Umno Pasir Mas division chief, Ibrahim Ali, the movement became an ‘instant hit’ where the Malays look up for ‘extension of voice to highlight their plight’.

Now Ibrahim is the ‘centre of focus’ for Kelantan Umno and BN as well as PAS given the scenario that how is he going to contest the general election.

Ibrahim won the 2008 general election on a PAS ticket and since then, he has ignored PAS and even hit out at Mentri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat.

Instead of supporting PAS programs in the state, Ibrahim has taken on the role of an opposition to the PAS state government and at federal level, with Perkasa as his platform, Ibrahim projects himself as a champion of Malays and Islam.

More popular than any other long-established Malay movement, Ibrahim was quick to hit the headlines with his unreserved comments and hard hitting salvos that he earned the appreciation of Umno leaders and members but became the ‘thorns to opposition PAS and PKR’.

The focus at present is how is he going to contest against PAS alongside BN as BN is surely to field an Umno candidate there.

Will Ibrahim be an Independent – a true independent or a BN-friendly Independent?

If Ibrahim contests as a true Independent, how is he going to campaign as his future plans to the voters would be similar to BN candidate, thus he has no ‘extras or an edge’.

The only ‘extras’ or edge’ Ibrahim has will be the Perkasa members who are loyal to him and would vote him rather than the Umno candidate despites these Perkasa members being Umno members.

But this would anger BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak as Najib wanted to see all Umno candidates win, especially after going through ‘thick and thin’ in selection of candidates.

Ibrahim, if going by the support he has in Perkasa, is expected to retain the seat despite it being located in a PAS state.

If he is to contests as a BN-friendly candidate in that BN would not field any for Pasir Mas, Ibrahim would have a smooth walk but will such thing happen?

Ibrahim cannot be admitted into Umno as he was expelled for life by former Umno president Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his only way of being admitted is by consensus of the supreme council members.

And will Umno under the presidency of Najib admits Ibrahim into the fold now that he has proven himself to be in and out an Umno man at heart and has been defending the party when the party was at its lowest?

The question can only be answered after the polls but as of now, Ibrahim is still the focus of Umno and PAS in Kelantan.

Sumber:  Beruang Biru