PERKASA Berjaya Menarik Minat Golongan Belia yang Terpinggir

PERKASA sering dilabel sebagai NGO yang rasis dan pelampau kepada rakyat Malaysia oleh  pelbagai pihak. Tahun 2011 menyaksikan PERKASA memulakan langkah kanan dalam usaha membantu golongan belia yang dipinggirkan oleh arus politik semasa dengan penganjuran Perhimpunan Wira Negara Revolusi 1Malaysia  oleh Wira Perkasa yang diketuai oleh saudara Arman Azha.

Pelbagai acara disajikan kepada pengunjung dengan upacara perasmian telah dilakukan oleh Timbalan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Dato Razali Ibrahim.

Kepada yang berkesempatan, boleh mengunjungi acara ini di Bukit Jalil dari 7-9 Januari 2011. Bersama kita memberi sokongan atas usaha murni yang sedang dijalankan oleh Wira Perkasa bagi membantu golongan belia yang makin tidak mendapat perhatian dan terus dipinggirkan.

Ulasan penganjuran acara Perhimpunan Wira Negara Revolusi 1Malaysia dipetik dari The Malaysian Insider.

Perkasa rebrands by reaching out to misfit youth

By Shannon Teoh

January 08, 2011

A rider displays his skills on his machine at the gathering. — Pictures by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 — Mat Rempits, rockers and skaters — Perkasa is boldly going where no group has gone before. Others may be quick to condemn and to play the blame game when it comes to social ills among the youth.
At this weekend’s Perhimpunan Wira Negara Revolusi, Wira Perkasa, the Bumiputera rights NGO’s youth wing, is embracing burnt rubber, loud guitars and graffiti instead.
“Political parties don’t want to be involved with these youth. They think they are problematic. So give them to us and we will help them,” said Wira Perkasa chief Arman Azha Abu Hanifah before greeting a few arrivals on gleaming Vespas.

Arman is happy just to touch base with the youth and bring them together.

But most of the 8,000 who registered for the event as of this evening did not seem to notice Perkasa’s role in organising the event despite its flags waving around the National Stadium car park. Those interviewed by The Malaysian Insider had come through word-of-mouth and were here for the music, to eyeball modified Vespas or catch some wild stunts on motorcycles.
Still, when told of Perkasa’s presence, most appreciated the effort.
Vespa enthusiasts Shahrulzainun Hussein and Siti Nuraina Azman were both happy to have politically-connected bodies support and organise these events.
“All parties have youth members and constituents so they should get involved in our activities,” said 24-year-old Shahrulzainun.
Siti Nuraina said the event was much larger and varied than previous scooter conventions she had attended.
Hafiq Zainuddin, 24, had thought the event was just a concert and came to watch his friend perform.
But he felt it was good that different sections of youth culture were being given an opportunity to gather.
“Nobody really pays attention to this stuff. They just keep harping on politics and the economy,” the Subang-based graphic designer said.
Not all in attendance were happy with Perkasa getting involved though.
A man who came with his family, and only wanted to be known as Thiru, said political bodies could try to take credit but “the youth are not gullible.”
When contacted by The Malaysian Insider, Aidil Rusli, frontman of indie band Couple, said he too was unaware of Perkasa’s involvement.
The band had agreed to play as it was a scooter convention which had an element of mod culture that shared a link with their ‘60s sound.
“I don’t agree with their political ideas but it’s true that political people rarely get involved because of the negative image that we get,” he said.
“For example, the whole scooter thing is not Mat Rempit. It’s actually a part of youth culture that is being ignored.
“I guess it’s good that politicians are starting to pay attention but it depends on Perkasa’s agenda because I don’t think many of these kids are extremists,” he added.
Despite this, Arman is happy just to touch base with the youth and bring them together.
They had termed the event as Malaysia’s “Woodstock,” referencing the 1960s’ festivals that brought various threads of bohemian culture together.
But where it was “free love” and the hippie culture of “sex, drugs and rock and roll” in America, Wira Perkasa wants to show that even if others frown on them, the youth have a place in this country.
“Before this Wira Perkasa was all about our policy and political stand. For 2011, we are reaching out to youth and building relationships and seeing how we can help all the different interest groups,” said Arman.

Another rider shows off his skills on his machine before an enthusiastic crowd.