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.
LA: Please save our country from Suaram.
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