He said the line-up of Perkasa independent candidates would offer voters, especially Malay voters, an alternative to the other parties contesting in GE14.
“Our focus are Malay-majority parliamentary seats which will almost certainly be contested by PAS and Pakatan Harapan. We will go in. We believe whoever wins in Malay areas, it would not affect the Malays,” he said at a press conference after Perkasa’s annual assembly.
Some 2,000 members of the Malay rights group attended today’s meeting.,
Ibrahim was himself once an MP with Umno, PAS and as an independent.
He said Perkasa was fielding independent candidates to ensure that they would be free to speak up and not forced to toe any party line.
Candidates would be chosen from those with a convincing education background and career, and would include former high-ranking civil servants, experienced lawyers, professionals and religious figures.
“Give a chance to our independent candidates whom we know are qualified,” he said.
Earlier today, in his speech at the AGM, Ibrahim had said that Perkasa would continue to defend Malay rights on its own, as Malaysian political parties each had their own political interests. He stressed that Perkasa was not Umno’s lapdog, as alleged by some parties.