Ibrahim Ali says the push to topple Anwar failed and wrecked Perikatan instead

KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia president Datuk Dr Ibrahim Ali says the opposition movement that set out to topple Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim did not achieve its aim, and that Perikatan Nasional ended up in pieces instead.

Speaking on The Tiger Show Podcast Episode 88, hosted by Amin Iskandar, he said the large rally at Dataran Merdeka showed the movement's strength at one point, but that the momentum was never converted into political change.

"Anwar tak jatuh, Anwar tak turun, yang hancurnya PN," he said, meaning Anwar did not fall and did not step down, and that it was Perikatan that was destroyed.

The Turun Anwar rally was held at Dataran Merdeka on July 26 last year. Police estimated about 80,000 people attended, while the organisers claimed a larger turnout. Anwar remained prime minister after the rally.

The PAS and Bersatu quarrel

Ibrahim tied the coalition's decline to the quarrel between PAS and Bersatu, and criticised the way the dispute has been handled.

In his view, a dispute that should have been settled at leadership level was left in the open long enough to erode supporters' confidence.

He also linked the tension to PAS's overtures to UMNO, alleging that conditions had been attached concerning Bersatu's position. That allegation is Ibrahim's own view and could not be independently verified. Neither PAS nor UMNO has announced any such agreement.

The background

Perikatan Nasional is in an open dispute between PAS, which administers the coalition, and Bersatu.

The Registrar of Societies sent the coalition a notice on Sept 22 and suspended all Perikatan activities the following day under subsection 13(2A) of the Societies Act 1966. Perikatan has sought judicial review of the notices.

Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan has alleged in a court affidavit that Bersatu acted with the intention of crippling the coalition ahead of the Melaka state election. Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz has urged Perikatan to stop casting itself as the victim and to answer Bersatu's complaints with evidence.

The Melaka state election is scheduled for Nov 14.

Ibrahim's remarks are his own political assessment and not a statement from any Perikatan Nasional component party.