The Prime Ministers remark against the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which decided to boycott the Malaysian Human Rights Commissions (Suhakam) for 100 days has been described as a reflection of his sheer arrogance and disrespect for the voice of civil society.

I think he has no respect for the process of check-and-balance in this country, Tenaganita executive-director Irene Fernandez told malaysiakini.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad had remarked yesterday that Who cares about these NGOs? They want to be on their own, when journalists asked him to comment on the move by the NGOs to suspend dealings with Suhakam for its ineffectiveness in restoring human rights in Malaysia.

Fernandez stressed that the 32 NGOs, which represent the voice of grassroots, were not against the government but were merely taking a position on human rights condition in the country.

She said the prime ministers statement will also give the public a wrong impression on the roles of the NGOs which had a good relationships with the government so far.

Suaram executive director Cynthia Gabriel also expressed her disappointment with Mahathirs remark.

We are very concerned that he actually ignored our voice. NGOs form a very important component in our civil society by giving credit or criticising the government.

Gabriel urged the prime minister to look at Suhakams recommendations seriously, as the NGOs merely wanted a better effort in protecting human rights in Malaysia.

We are not just making noise for nothing. As a democratic country, the government should welcome the NGOs and should not regard us as a nuisance, she added.

Regarded as a pain

The prime ministers words also did not go down well with Amnesty International in Malaysia. Its co-ordinating committee chairperson Joseph Paul said the NGOs have taken trouble to analyse the conditions of human rights in Malaysia to provide feedback to the government, hoping that the situation would improve.

Thus, we expect the country leader to show his concern on the matter, he said.

Paul explained that the government has always regarded the NGOs as a pain as they have always brought up issues which most people fear to do so, such as on environmental degradation or corruption, which do not please the government.

Suhakam commissioner Prof Hamdan Adnan, who also chairs an NGO which advocates consumerism, said that the public would come up as losers if the NGOs and the government cannot enjoy a good relationship.

The prime minister should not judge all the NGOs in the country by looking at 32 of them...there are about 6,000 registered NGOs here, he said.

Meanwhile, Hamdan called for the involved NGOs to reconsider their decision and try to be more constructive in their efforts if they wanted to see an improvement in human rights conditions.

On Saturday, the NGOs said they have suspended all engagements with Suhakam for 100 days since April 24, when the latest appointment with the commission took place.

Speaking on behalf of the NGOs , the National Human Rights Association or Hakam president Ramdas Tikamdas said the boycott was to protest the governments poor response to Suhakams numerous recommendations thus far.

Among notable NGOs involved in the boycott are the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC), Suaram, Amnesty International, Jamaah Islah Malaysia (Jim) and Sisters in Islam (SIS).