Masir (second right) presents a certificate of recognition to the representative of one of the oldest NGOs in Bintulu as Razin (second left) and others look on.
BINTULU: Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the country should recruit more young members to strengthen their organisations and contribute towards nation-building.
Deputy Home Minister Masir Kujat said the young generation could generate fresh ideas to ensure their organisations stay vibrant and relevant.
He said this at a dialogue organised by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) with NGOs of Bintulu Division at Pearl Restaurant in Kemena Plaza Hotel yesterday, where some 198 registered NGOs with over 200 representatives attended the session.
According to Masir, NGOs played a role as a mediator between the government and the people in the implementation of government policies.
“You also act as an agent of transformation in various fields as planned by government towards vision 2020,” he said.
The associations were also advised to create a harmonious community to rein in the threat of radicalism.
“You should take preventive steps rather than offset the damage. We should beware of members who try to import the (foreign) culture of neighbouring NGOs. We must safeguard the contamination of our future reservoirs (in ideology),” he added.
Being multiracial, he believed Malaysians must go beyond tolerance to also embrace acceptance.
“This cannot last mere months or even years, as acceptance goes on indefinitely. Associations, in this respect, must take the lead as they represent all communities,” he said.
He said NGOs would continue playing an important role towards the country’s greater growth and sustainability.
To-date he said there is a total of 57,577 NGOs registered with ROS in the country. A total of 3,870 NGOs or 6.72 per cent was registered in Sarawak with 5.43 per cent or 210 registered in Bintulu.
Masir said the event in Bintulu was among the many initiatives taken by ROS to get closer to the community on the ground. The e-Roses workshop he said was one way to give hands-on service to associations throughout the state to utilise the use of eRoses online system.
Meanwhile ROS director-general Datuk Mohammad Razin Abdullah said this ‘go to the ground’ initiative was aimed at providing the best services. “This is a platform for you to highlight any issue while managing your own associations. Any weakness on our side will be further explained during the dialogue,” he said.
He also urged any unregistered association in the country to register with ROS as stipulated under the constitution.
During the event, five local NGOs, which have been established the past 70 years, were presented with recognition certificates.
He said these NGOs have shown leadership and they should become an example for others. The five NGOs are Bintulu Foochow Association, Bintulu Chung Hua Association, Hockien Association Bintulu, Bintulu Division Kwang Tang Association and Sarawak Tatau Teochew Association.