Malaysian Politician Remembers His 9-Hour Meeting with Imam Khomeini

IQNA – Datu Ibrahim Ali, a Malaysian politician, described his nine-hour meeting with Imam Khomeini in France as the biggest turning point of his life.

Ibrahim Ali, the president of the Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia, visited the Iranian Cultural Center in Kuala Lumpur and met with the Iranian Cultural Attaché, Habib Reza Arzani, on Sunday. 

The meeting came ahead of the Malaysian politician’s trip to Iran at the invitation of the Institute for Compilation and Publication of Imam Khomeini's Works to take part in ceremonies marking the 36th demise anniversary of the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

During the meeting, Ibrahim Ali remembered a historic trip in 1978.

He explained that during his honeymoon to the United States and after participating in the protests of Iranian residents against the Pahlavi regime in front of the White House, he traveled to France and managed to meet with Imam Khomeini (RA) in Neauphle-le-Château.

“On that trip, I had the honor of being with the Imam for nine hours, and I performed the evening prayers and had dinner with him. When the meeting began, I wanted to kiss Imam Khomeini’s hand, but he withdrew his hand and did not allow it.”

Ibrahim Ali described that meeting the greatest turning point in his life and said, sincerity, God-centeredness and firmness were evident in the words of Imam Khomeini.

Arzani, for his part, highlighted Ibrahim Ali’s efforts to spread Islamic principles.

He added, “Your historic meeting with Imam Khomeini (RA) is a clear symbol of the deep cultural and historical ties between the two countries of Iran and Malaysia, ties that continue in the diplomatic and cultural arena.”

Ibrahim Ali, the founder of the Pertubuhan Prabowo Perkasa (PERKASA) and a Malaysian political activist with Islamic and nationalist leanings, was the first Malaysian citizen who met with Imam Khomeini (RA) in person before the Islamic Revolution.

Influenced by this meeting, in 1979 he published a book titled “Interview with Imam Khomeini” in Malay, which contained dialogues and views of Imam Khomeini on various Islamic and political issues. It had a circulation of 30,000 copies and had wide resonance among Malaysian Muslims.

In his memoir Perjuangan Tanpa Noktah (Endless Struggle”, Ibrahim Ali has described the meeting as an unforgettable experience.

After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, he maintained his relationship with the Islamic Republic and has visited Iran on several official occasions.

4285970