Politically Frank: Ibrahim Ali brushes off critics over 'King of Frogs' term

SHAH ALAM - Outspoken Datuk Ibrahim Ali remains controversial till today.

Wearing his bright yellow t-shirt, he initially frowns when asked about his critics calling him a racist and a "frog", however, within seconds he loosens up stating it shows he cares for his race.

Ibrahim, who is the president of the Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) said he was proud to be called a "racist" because it shows he cares for his race and an endorsement that he is a true Malay fighter.

However, he said, the scenario was created because other politicians were "envious" of his popularity on social media.

“I was a victim of jealousy, just because I was a president of a Malay non-governmental organisation called Perkasa, so they called me a racist.

“Umno fights for the Malays, MCA are fighting for the Chinese, MIC for the Indians, then how am I racist?,” he said during an interview with Sinar Daily's Politically Frank segment.

In 2013, Ibrahim had called for the burning of Malay Bibles that use “Allah”.

The late Bukit Gelugor MP and DAP chairman Karpal Singh had lodged a police report against Ibrahim for asking Muslims to “seize and burn” Bibles which used the “Allah” term. He had said such a call was seditious and can incite religious discord.

Life was not easy for Ibrahim. He is the fifth child and eldest boy of 13 children. His father, Ali Mohamad @ Che Leh was a village head.

He studied in different primary schools in Pekan and went on to leave with his uncle as his parents were unable to support a big family.

He spent his secondary school years in Sekolah Kebangsaan Islah and did Lower and Upper Six in a private school, Maktab Abadi, where he lived underneath the school and worked part-time while studying to pay for his school fees.

After completing his High School Certificate (HSC), he signed up to do a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in Institut Teknologi Mara (ITM, now Universiti Teknologi MARA, UiTM), but later switched his course to Mass Communications instead.

Later in life in 2017, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy from IIC University of Technology, Cambodia.

But during the interview, Ibrahim said: “People don’t know who Ibrahim Ali is, I know a lot of Chinese people. My friends and business partners are Chinese, and my driver for the last 30 years is an Indian. I mingle around with everybody. I am not a racist."

Apart from that, he said he was also labelled as a "King of Frogs" after he changed his political party from Umno to contest as an independent.

He said his critics were quick to label him as a "frog" when most politicians have been leaping from one party to another for their personal gain.

“Everybody is a frog, but why am I being called the King of Frogs? Again, this is because of jealousy and I am proud,” he said.

Commenting further, during the interview, he said that there are "real frogs" which refers to the politicians voluntarily jumping parties for their personal gain.

“They are the real frog and artificial frogs. I am an artificial frog, so that is the difference between me and others (politicians),” he said referring to politicians who look for other platforms to expand their agenda.

Ibrahim started his political career in Pan Malaysian Islamic Front (Berjasa) from 1978 to 1981, he then went on to Semangat 46 from 1988 to 1991. He was also with Umno from 1981 to 1988 and again from 1991 to 2003.

He joined PAS in 2008, left and formed Putra in 2018 where he remains as the president now.