INTERVIEW Months after his seemingly sudden departure from Malay rights pressure group Perkasa, the perception lingers that former Youth chief Arman Azha Abu Hanifah had quit because of disputes surrounding the NGO’s funds.

In fact, said the Petaling Jaya Utara Umno information chief, the NGO had hardly any money to fight over.

NONE “I swear to God, throughout the time I was in Perkasa I only received RM1,700,” he said in an interview.

“Some said I ran away with RM5 million or RM3 million..if I did, then lodge a police report, show it. This is just a move to topple my political career. There is nothing for me to fear.”

Arman, 37 and a father of two, best remembered for leading the fiery protest outside the venue of rapper Namewee's album launch, said Perkasa has never received any regular funding.

Neither does the controversial NGO receive political funding or logistical support from federal agencies, as is widely speculated.

NONE Arman, whose application to join Perkasa was only taken seriously after his demonstration against Christian use of ‘Allah’ in 2008, said the NGO has always raised funds on an ad hoc basis.

He said, Perkasa, which maintains an office at the Grand Seasons Hotel near Chow Kit in Kuala Lumpur, can however name the Malay Car Dealers and Importers Association (Pekema) as a solid backer.

“Look, it's like this. Every time we want to run a programme, I will go meet my friends. Those who want to help will do, sometimes giving RM200, RM300. We don't get huge sums. This is just perception,” he said of the NGO set up by 15 founding members and which has grown to 60,000 members nationwide.

Powerful patrons

Perkasa also enjoys patronage from powerful people but Arman reckons this is largely on the back of its president Ibrahim Ali's strong personal relationships during his days as an Umno supreme council member.

NONE Asked if these patrons, who include former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the current prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor, have contributed financially, Arman - who said one of his major responsibilities as Youth chief was fundraising - could only say: “Oh, I'm not sure.”

“People say we're wealthy but they don't know that at one point, when I first joined Perkasa, my friends and I were sleeping in cars, showering in mosques. But one doesn't publicise these things.”

This, despite being a successful businessman in his own right, having up to eight active businesses from a used car dealership to fashion boutiques under his name.

Arman had worked as a junior auditor with the Arab Malaysia Bank before landing a job with Naza Motors and then opening his car dealership.

“Even a successful businessman can’t sustain having to use up money every day. Like I said, Perkasa never got political funding,” he said.

mat rempit He is applying the Perkasa fund-raising model in his new NGO Suara Anak Muda 1Malaysia, a group that aims to engage “forgotten youth” like the Mat Rempit.

His track record with Perkasa, too, has won support for Suara from Pekema which has emerged as a big time funder.

“I cannot thank Pekema enough, especially (its head) Zainuddin (Abd Rahman).When I met him and told him about our struggle, a bright light was shone by him. He fulfilled his promise (to support us) because we proved our worth through our programmes,” added Arman. 

VIDEO | 2.24 mins

Tomorrow: No contradiction between Perkasa, 1Malaysia

Interview by Aidila Razak, Zulaikha Zulkifli and Nicholas Wong