KUALA LUMPUR: The community of scholars and intellectuals in Malaysia yesterday agreed that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which have more tendency to incite or fight for political issues should register as political parties and stop hiding behind a mask.
They also felt that the people should not easily accept such NGOs as the third force because their committees were probably comprised only four or five members and could not have represented the majority of the people.
They also lauded the remarks by Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim that the people should not easily label NGOs as the third force because these NGOs did not have any power as the real power actually lies with the people.
Rais made the remarks in a special interview in the “Kerusi Panas” programme by Bernama Radio24 in conjunction with the expansion of the radio transmission to Johor in Johor Baharu yesterday.
Deputy Dean of Universiti Sains Malaysia School of Social Science (Research and Postgraduate), Assoc Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said Rais’ remarks came as no surprise.
“What he says is basically correct because certain NGOs are not just acting like political parties, but they are also being partisan and have their own political interests. They are not the third force which holds the balance of power,” he told Bernama.
Sivamurugan said NGOs should know how to differentiate themselves from political parties and the differences in their respective organisational policies.
“If they want to play the role of a political party, the NGO must register as or join the political party. They should not hide behind a mask of an NGO just to achieve their own political agenda,” he said.
Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Faculty of Human Ecology Deputy Dean, Prof Dr Jayum Anak Jawan, said the NGOs should have clear objectives and should not act as political parties if they want to earn the respect of the people.
For example, he said an environmental-based NGO should focus on environmental issues, while an NGO which provide legal aid should focus on legal issues, and not politicising either the environmental or legal issues to pledge their supports to certain political parties.
“Actually, there are many NGOs in Malaysia. Those playing the role of political parties are actually formed by former members of a political party who quit after failing to secure top party posts.
“They were probably disappointed in their struggles and wanted to get even by setting up an NGO which plays a role of a political party,” he said.
Jayum also agreed with Rais’ remarks that it was not easy for the NGOs to be labelled as the third force as they did not meet the requirements.
“If the NGO is a policy research institute which is represented by only four or five people, then how can they become the third force? They don’t even have the people’s support.
“Whatever they say will not give much impact,” he said.
Jayum said if the NGOs wanted to be the third force, they should be widely accepted and have numerous branches nationwide, including in Sabah and Sarawak.
Mass Communication lecturer and social observer, Prof Datuk Mohamed Hamdan Adnan, on the other hand, said Rais’ remarks were also timely to ensure that the people would not be confused in pledging their supports in view of the upcoming general election. — Bernama