Umno has to tame Perkasa - Nur Jazlan

"It means that the party must tell Perkasa to be factual. If they cannot say anything good, they must just shut up," he said as quoted by weekly newspaper, The Heat.

He added that Perkasa does not shut up because it is seeking legitimacy.

This is Nur Jazlan's renewed attack on Perkasa after he dismissed the NGO's threat to replace UMNO as the defender of the Malay rights, late last year. He said Perkasa has overestimated its strength and influence among the Malays.

His critics on Perkasa then was in response to its founder and president, Datuk Ibrahim Ali who claimed that Umno was showing signs of weaknesses and becoming “toothless” in its struggle to protect the interest of the Malays.

The Heat also quoted Nur Jazlan as saying Perkasa is not of any help in any way to UMNO.

"Perkasa is, in fact, a threat to UMNO. Look at their statements. Are they helping UMNO? They are not," he said.

Nur Jazlan pointed out that Perkasa recruits its members from UMNO dan does not take non-UMNO members.

"If they want to take members from UMNO, then the party should lay down its terms," he reasoned.

Perkasa was founded by the former Pasir Mas lawmaker after the 12th general election that saw Barisan Nasional lost its two-third majority in Parliament for the first time since the general election in 1969.

It was established to fight for the Malay rights and protect the sanctity of Islam.

In the interview with The Heat, Nur Jazlan said that Perkasa is "a deflection tactic" for UMNO and gives the party a breather from having to deal with difficult issues.

"It is easier to go down that route. Instead of addressing the issues, instead of giving answers to the real issues, it is easier to use Perkasa as well as religious and racial matters to deflect attention (from the real issues)," he said.

He added that while UMNO does not directly support Perkasa, the presence of its leaders at the NGO's function suggest implicit support at the least.

Nur Jazlan caused a stir in 2008 after he declared his candidacy for UMNO deputy president on the ticket to rejuvenate the party. He however pulled out after failing to secure nomination from UMNO divisions who gave their solid support to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.