NGOs gather in support of Suaram

KUALA LUMPUR: About 135 NGOs gathered to show support for human rights organisation Suaram and called for an end to alleged “harassment” of the organisation.

The NGOs, which included Tenaganita, Sisters in Islam and Aliran, said allegations of financial irregularities had to be investigated but must be done in an “impartial and fair” manner.

Suaram director Dr Kua Kia Soong said Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s recent statement that the NGO’s accounts were “highly suspicious” was defamatory.

Ismail had said Suaram’s financial report, submitted to the Companies Commission of Malaysia, showed it had received US$180,000 (RM594,000) in stages between 2007 and 2010 from a foreign foundation said to be linked to currency speculator George Soros.

The minister had added it was against the law for Suaram to receive foreign funds as it was not registered under the Registrar of Societies.

Women’s Aid Organisation executive director Ivy Josiah defended Suaram’s acceptance of funds from foreign institutions.

“It is not foreign funding, it’s global funding,” she said.

Also present was Bersih chairperson Datuk S. Ambiga who said acceptance of funds was “not a crime” as long as the money was accounted for.

Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) Datuk Paul Low said Malaysian NGO’s had the right to receive foreign funding.

“As a registered Malaysian NGO, TI-M is aware of the difficulty and challenges faced by civil society in raising funds for projects and activities,’’ said Low in a media statement.

Low added that many of its civil society partners, universities, think tanks and even the Malaysian Government received funding from various foreign institutions.

Meanwhile, Cheras Umno division chief Datuk Wira Syed Ali Alhabsheesaid Suaram should not be allowed to operate here, as it had received funds from a foundation associated with Soros who had sabotaged the Malaysian economy more than a decade ago.

He added that Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also appeared to be using Suaram to push his political agenda.

Sources: The Star

LA: Please save our country from Suaram.

Karpal in ‘lonely battle’

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP national chairman Karpal Singh is fighting “a lonely battle” in trying to stop PAS from implementing hudud.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said other than Karpal, nobody else from the party was seen to be vocal against the law.

Dr Chua said PAS deputy president Mat Sabu had said in an interview that the Islamic party would seek to amend the constitution to implement hudud if it formed the government.

“He said all Muslim MPs will be committed to do this. There are currently over 150 Muslim MPs, which is more than two-thirds of the total representatives in the Dewan Rakyat.

“So DAP must do more to convince us that hudud will not be implemented if the Opposition wins,” Dr Chua told reporters after chairing the MCA presidential council meeting at Wisma MCA here yesterday.

On another matter, Dr Chua accused the Opposition of influencing youths to demonstate against the Government.

“Because the Opposition is so successful in inciting hatred against Barisan Nasional leaders, many of those who attend political functions do not want to even shake our hands.

“We may have different opinions but it shouldn’t be to the extent of hating us,” Dr Chua added.

On another matter, Dr Chua said the MCA’s annual general meeting would be held on Oct 21 and launched by the Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“A day before the meeting, MCA will give a briefing to all leaders in its branches.

“It will focus on issues raised by the Opposition to influence voters and confuse the people,” he said.

Meanwhile, DAP and PKR women lawmakers have been asked to rebuke PAS over its gender separation policy.

Wanita MCA Young Women Bureau national chief Tee Hooi Ling said in a press statement that Karpal had been the only one to speak up against what happened at PAS’ Hari Raya open house in Seremban.

“What is amazing is that DAP women lawmakers like Teresa Kok, Chong Eng, Teoh Nie Ching, Hannah Yeoh and Fong Po Kuan have not questioned it.

“Why are the women leaders from PKR like its president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail or PKR women’s chief Zuraida Kama­ruddin, or other legislators like Elizabeth Wong and Fuziah Salleh, keeping mum?” Tee asked.

Sources: The Star

LA; Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster

Suaram: German funds used for refugee aid

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 11, 2012): Funds given to Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) by the German Embassy were used for the NGO's refugees and undocumented migrants programme, Suaram adviser Dr Kua Kia Soong said.

"The money was channelled to the refugees programme; very few people would give money for refugees and undocumented migrants," he said when clarifying the use of funds provided by the embassy to Suara Rakyat Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, a Suaram-linked company.

He was speaking at a press conference organised by 135 NGOs showing support for Suaram today.

Bersih 2.0 steering committee co-chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, who led the press conference, said the NGOs "expressed absolute horror at the manner in which Suaram, a respected human rights body, is being treated by the government".

"As NGOs, we have no issue in being investigated to ensure accounts are in proper order, but the many accusations against Suaram have been levelled against many civil societies in the past, especially when they are doing something uncomfortable for the government," she said, alluding to Suaram's investigations into the government's Scorpene submarine deal.

Centre for Independent Journalism executive officer Masjaliza Hamzah said many government-linked NGOs also received foreign funding for their work.

"It is definitely not unusual for human rights work to be supported by international organisations," she said.

According to the Foreign Ministry, German Ambassador Dr Guenther Georg Gruber had explained that the funds given to Suaram were for a workshop held in Kuala Lumpur in November 2010, which was attended by 21 NGOs.

"Funding [by the German Embassy] is only provided on a project basis, those which are close to German values including the protection and promotion of human rights," the ministry said in a statement after calling in Gruber to Wisma Putra on Friday.

The NGOs called on the government to stop the "selective persecution" of Suaram, which they described as a "witch hunt".