(from left) Ken, Fatimah, and Mohamad Razin at the press conference.
MUKAH: The state government will not support non-governmental organisation (NGOs) with hidden agendas.
Minister of Welfare, Women, and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said this was because the government recognised the complimentary role played by NGOs to help the government reach out to the needy in the state.
“We look at NGOs as a complimentary group in making sure that the welfare of the people is taken care of.
“They are complimenting what the government is doing, especially in all aspects of development in the country.
“So, we welcomed activities by NGOs as we regard the importance of their role. But if they are extreme, inciting hatreds among the different races, that is a ‘no no’ to us,” she told a press conference after the ‘Organisation Management and the Application of eRoses Course’ held at Kingwood Resort here yesterday.
Fatimah said the state was able to progress because the people were living in harmony and peace despite having 28 different ethnic groups.
“The spirit of 1Malaysia has long existed in the state. This is the way to move forward although in terms of development we are still behind.”
She said the state would not be able to move forward when the people were in chaos.
She pointed out it was of upmost importance that the people be well protected to ensure a sustainable environment to live in.
“The people must always be careful, observe, listen, and study the facts first before making any decision.
“We do not want NGOs to conduct activities that has hidden agendas. We want NGOs that
are genuine, who really want to help the people, especially the needy.”
On politics, she said Sarawakians had always been gentlemen enough to abstain from holding demonstrations that could ruin peace in the state.
Even during campaigning, politicians had never hurled obscenities at other candidates or parties.
“But, we are seeing it (negative culture) coming now. It has been brought over to Sarawak, and we must make sure that it does not spread.”
Fatimah added that the government would only give grants to organisations that were genuine in their activities.
For example, she said, when an organisation is registered under the Women’s Bureau, their activities must focused on women’s activities, empowering women financially through courses and workshop that could help them in their livelihood.
Grant, she said, was important to help an organisation cover expenses such as salary and utility bills.
“That is how we empower NGOs to help the people because we recognise their role as part of our machinery to help our people.”
She also advised clubs to register with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
She said there were 3,020 registered NGOs in the state and 40 per cent of them were welfare oriented.
Meanwhile, Fatimah, who is also Balingian by-election (Woman) deputy chairman, said she had distributed the task to the women machinery.
There are 6,651 men and 6,715 women who are eligible to vote in Balingian, and out of that 5,872 are aged below 45 years.
“We want more voters to turn out. In the last state election, the turnout was only about 70 per cent.”
Also present was ROS director-general Mohamad Razin Abdullah and state ROS director Ken Leben.