Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali expressed disappointment about not being given the ticket by Barisan Nasional to retain the Pasir Mas parliament seat, which was won by him in 2008.

Despite the news, Ibrahim said he will contest as an independent candidate.

According to Ibrahim, no explanation was given as to why he was not a BN candidate while his deputy, Zulkifli Noordin was fielded by BN to contest for the Shah Alam parliament seat.

“I am not fielded, meaning I am not given a chance for reasons unknown. Perhaps I am not good looking or something. But I would like to state that even though I am contesting in Pasir Mas, it does not mean I am going against BN. This is an isolated case,” he said.

Ibrahim was speaking to reporters after arriving at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport, Pengkalan Chepa, where he was welcomed by some 300 supporters of Perkasa.

UMNO Pasir Mas deputy chief Che Johan Che Pa has been fielded to contest in the parliament seat.

Ibrahim added that he does not have any vengeance with BN or UMNO over the decision, instead he has urged all Perkasa members to give the new candidate their support.

Ibrahim’s decision is said to be at the request of the Pasir Mas folk as there are many unfinished agendas they have to pursue especially about Islam and Malay matters. He also expressed his gratitude toward Datuk Seri Najib Razak for choosing Zulkifli to contest on BN’s ticket.