Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali speaks during the ‘Himpunan Jihad Perkasa’ rally in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur December 2, 2018. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 — Perkasa is willing to take the law into its own hands and mount a street uprising if swift action to safeguard Malay institutions is not forthcoming, the group’s founder and president Datuk Ibrahim Ali said today.

A former deputy minister, Ibrahim said his group, which touts itself as championing Malay rights, has supporters whose patience are wearing thin in the face of threats to the Malay institutions, which he further claimed pointed to a plot to subvert Malay political power.

“The Malays have lost their patience,” Ibrahim told an estimated 100 supporters gathered outside The Regency hotel in the capital city’s Malay heartland here where Perkasa is to hold its ninth annual general assembly later today.

“Today is just the first round. After this, we will no longer be silent and Perkasa will run amok all over the country,” he added.

It was unclear who or what Ibrahim was directing his warning to.

Instead, he alluded to several incidents, speaking about the riots that broke out at a Hindu temple in Subang Jaya, Selangor last week, and a proposal for the government to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) as examples of an attempt to undermine Malay culture or polity.

“When Adam [sic] was assaulted, we can still remain silent,” Ibrahim said in an erroneous reference to Muhammad Adib Muhd Kassim, the fireman who was critically injured during the Subang riots last Tuesday.

“What if the one that was hurt was a Muthu? Ah Chong? There would have been an outburst. Yet, when Adam was hurt, Malays remained very patient.

“I say enough with being patient. Enough that we are law-abiding when other races can easily transgress,” he added.

Participants hold banners during the ‘Himpunan Jihad Perkasa’ rally in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur December 2, 2018. — Picture by Hari Anggara

The two-day violence at the Hindu temple was sparked by disputes over the land, which Selangor had sold to a private developer.

However, the debate that emerged after the riots took on a racial tone, fuelled by unverified rumours that were spread nationwide through social media platforms.

Muhammad Adib suffered multiple broken ribs that punctured his lung as well as other internal injuries after he was reportedly attacked by a mob, but doctors at the National Heart Institute where he is warded are optimistic for his recovery.

Participants react during the 'Himpunan Jihad Perkasa' rally in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur December 2, 2018. — Picture by Hari Anggara

Perkasa also suggested that the Subang temple riots were linked to the ICERD, and took aim at Unity and Social Wellbeing Minister P. Waytha Moorthy for advocating its ratification.

Ibrahim accused Waytha of being a racist, echoing views held by an anti-ICERD movement that the UN treaty was the minister’s plot to undermine Malay rule.

The Perkasa chief said the ICERD was akin to a challenge on the Malay monarchy, which he alleged is a continuation of a large-scale movement by anti-Malay elements to usurp power.

“They have dared to transgress... you are forcing us to take the law into our own hands and when that happens, don’t be surprised,” he added.