Mawan speaking to reporters after presenting assistance to five groups at his office yesterday.
KUCHING: Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and associations are reminded not to bring in politics and negative elements when asking for assistance from the Social Development Ministry. Its minister Tan Sri William Mawan said such conduct would only create confusion among themselves as he would not take sides.
“It is a known fact that among all the NGOs and associations, even among sports-related ones, there are politics. I will not go down and be involved in their politics. But I will only deal with the winner.
“I will not make decisions arbitrarily or take sides even when my friends are there,” he told reporters after presenting assistance to five groups at his office yesterday. Mawan pointed out that such tendencies within the NGOs or associations would not benefit anyone.
“When asking for assistance, do not bring in your politics and other negative elements into it. It is not conducive for the government of the day and it will not contribute healthy development to sports.
“Do not go away from the mainstream as it is detrimental and undesirable,” he said. Earlier, Mawan presented assistance to Sarawak Golf Association, Pesta Nanas committee, Kelab Rando Saratok, Archbishop of Kuching and Single Mothers’ Association of Sarawak. He acknowledged that there were many requests for assistance from various NGOs, religious bodies and associations throughout the state.
“We have to balance them out, looking at particularly rural needs, as the people in the rural areas have no one to turn to.
“There are many deserving cases that the ministry is reaching out to. The government is very caring and these assistance are provided from the heart,” he said.