Putra president Ibrahim Ali has hit back at Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz and defended his criticism of Perikatan Nasional’s performance in Saturday’s Ayer Kuning by-election.
Ibrahim said PN and its leaders must learn to self-reflect on election performances and accept criticism from fellow parties that were opposed to the government.
“The real enemies aren’t your comrades,” he said in a statement.
“In politics, we must be able to check ourselves rather than simply blaming our rivals (for election defeats). We must be able to reflect on ourselves and receive criticism with an open heart.
“I still wish success for my friends in PN, especially PAS and Bersatu. Although we are small, Putra stands ready to defend and empower our people.”
Ibrahim, the founding president of pro-Malay group Perkasa, had attributed PN’s by-election defeat to Barisan Nasional to the arrogance of some of its leaders, saying they failed to obtain the feedback of other “stakeholders” in coordinating their election strategy.
The former three-term Pasir Mas MP said PN can “keep on daydreaming” about winning the next general election if its leaders continued with that attitude.
Tun Faisal hit out at Ibrahim over his statement, saying the Putra president had no locus standi to comment on the by-election result and should not be an armchair critic.
Today, Ibrahim cynically thanked Tun Faisal for criticising him and said he was merely sharing his views as a former MP who ran for elections seven times.
He also said he was on the ground during the Ayer Kuning by-election campaign, attending ceramahs and dropping by the operations centre of every party in contention.
Ibrahim also questioned Tun Faisal’s credentials and track record in politics in a tit-for-tat response.
“I have no problem if he wants to attack and fight me. I’m used to it. But who is he to go up against me? What track record or success has he attained?”
Tun Faisal, the former Putrajaya Umno chief, was previously the press secretary of former minister Annuar Musa, who is now in PAS. He was also strategic communications director of the government’s now-defunct special affairs department, better known as Jasa.
