No funding from foreign governments
Premesh ChandranPublished: Apr 2, 2001 2:20 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
The Barisan Alternatif has not received any funding from foreign
governments, said spokesperson Rustam Sani at a press conference this afternoon. "As far as I know, none of the Barisan Alternatif parties have ever received funding from foreign governments or their agencies, he said. "We collect our funds through public donations."
Rustam challenged BN to provide evidence of such funding. "I believe it is just another attempt to tarnish the image of BA."
Malay newspaper Utusan Malaysia ran a front page headline story today entitled "Government asked to investigate attempt by foreign embassies to fund opposition parties and NGOs".
The story quoted the International Affairs Committee chairperson of Umno Youth Abdul Azim Zabidi alleging that officials from at least four embassies --the US, Britain, Canada and Australia -- have been seen meeting with opposition leaders and attending opposition gatherings, lending weight to the allegations that these organisations are foreign agents.
Rustam said that it was normal for foreign officials to meet with party leaders as it was the duty of embassy officials to report on the domestic political situation.
"I have seen embassy officials going to BN ceramahs (political rallies) and meeting BN leaders. Does this imply that BN is receiving funds from foreign governments?"
When contacted by malaysiakini, the US Embassy said it did not provide funding to Malaysians with the view of toppling the BN government.
"We categorically deny funding any political party or NGO. The attendance of embassy officials at BN and BA ceramahs is merely to observe, in line with the embassy's role to understand the political situation in the country," said US Embassy media spokesperson Charles Barclay.
"Our interest is in the democratic process; we do not believe in interfering with the affairs of the country."
According to Bernama, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that Wisma Putra will make a report and will take appropriate action if it was true that political parties received funding from foreign governments.
"However, apart from the news report, I have not received any other information about this foreign interference," Abdullah said after meeting the Kijang state constituents in Kota Baru.
Rustam challenged BN to provide evidence of such funding. "I believe it is just another attempt to tarnish the image of BA."
Malay newspaper Utusan Malaysia ran a front page headline story today entitled "Government asked to investigate attempt by foreign embassies to fund opposition parties and NGOs".
The story quoted the International Affairs Committee chairperson of Umno Youth Abdul Azim Zabidi alleging that officials from at least four embassies --the US, Britain, Canada and Australia -- have been seen meeting with opposition leaders and attending opposition gatherings, lending weight to the allegations that these organisations are foreign agents.
Rustam said that it was normal for foreign officials to meet with party leaders as it was the duty of embassy officials to report on the domestic political situation.
"I have seen embassy officials going to BN ceramahs (political rallies) and meeting BN leaders. Does this imply that BN is receiving funds from foreign governments?"
When contacted by malaysiakini, the US Embassy said it did not provide funding to Malaysians with the view of toppling the BN government.
"We categorically deny funding any political party or NGO. The attendance of embassy officials at BN and BA ceramahs is merely to observe, in line with the embassy's role to understand the political situation in the country," said US Embassy media spokesperson Charles Barclay.
"Our interest is in the democratic process; we do not believe in interfering with the affairs of the country."
According to Bernama, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that Wisma Putra will make a report and will take appropriate action if it was true that political parties received funding from foreign governments.
"However, apart from the news report, I have not received any other information about this foreign interference," Abdullah said after meeting the Kijang state constituents in Kota Baru.
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