Gerakan is glad that Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has vehemently dismissed allegations that Umno has strong ties with Perkasa, the Malay rights group.

Gerakan deputy secretary-general Liang Teck Meng said today that the public denial of such link and assertion that the Perkasa chief, Datuk Ibrahim Ali, was eroding Barisan Nasional’s (BN) support amongst the non-Malays should quell public perception that Umno was supporting Perkasa.

“Gerakan strongly believes that the BN must speak in one voice for 1Malaysia against any form of extremism and only then the people will support BN as a moderate, cohesive and progressive political force that could bring Malaysia forward,” said Liang in a statement.

Liang, who is also Member of Parliament for Simpang Renggam, said Ibrahim and Perkasa had been making things very difficult for BN and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak lately. Their statements and actions have caused people sceptical of many good policies like 1Malaysia and New Economic Model (NEM) initiated by BN governments under Prime Minister Najib.

On claims by Ibrahim that Umno did not want Malay votes, Liang said that was only to be expected from Perkasa who would never want to see Najib’s 1Malaysia to succeed.

“The 1Malaysia concept transcends all barriers of race and religion and should be supported by all Malaysians,” he said, adding that the 1Malaysia is the way forward.

Liang also reiterated Gerakan’s stand that the 1Malaysia concept focused on fostering unity in Malaysians of all races based on inclusiveness and social justice and would bring benefits to the nation and the people.