'Gov't money for NGOs will stem foreign influence'
A lawmaker wants the government to allocate money in the federal budget for NGOs to stem the tide of foreign funding and influence in local organisations.
A lawmaker wants the government to allocate money in the federal budget for NGOs to stem the tide of foreign funding and influence in local organisations.
“This is so that they will not depend on foreign funds,” argued Ibrahim Ali (Independent-Pasir Mas) in the Dewan Rakyat when debating the 2013 Budget Bill today.
Such allocations, he said, can be made to NGOs based on the size of their membership, for example.
In recent weeks, human rights NGO Suaram has had to fend off a slew of accusations about its agenda, after it was disclosed that it receives foreign funds for its work through its registered vehicle, Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd.
Ibrahim argued that foreign interests that fund NGOs could destabilise nations, pointing as proof to the Arab Spring which toppled the government in several Middle Eastern countries.
Malaysiakini has also been accused of being receiving funds from international currency speculator George Soros and of advancing his agenda at the expense of Malaysian interests.
Ibrahim also accused
Malaysiakini
of intentionally stirring up the ‘white’ ang-pow packets distributed to Chinese who attended last year’s Chinese New Year open house organised by Malay rights pressure group Perkasa.
Ibrahim, who is Perkasa president, insisted that the white envelopes, conventionally given at Chinese funerals, had been used unintentionally.
‘Enact law for disclosure’
Ibrahim further said he wants Malaysia to follow in the footsteps of the US and enact legislation that requires all NGOs that receive foreign funding to declare such funds.
The Foreign Agents Registration Act is a US law that requires all organisations that represent foreign interests or receive foreign funds to make full disclosure of the fact.
The MP said that such a law would limit and control the spread of foreign influence in the country.
Ibrahim downplayed funding from foreign agencies to the federal government which he said "is different" as it is fully disclosed.
However, "secret funds" to NGOs by foreign interests are both unrecorded and for questionable purposes, he added.
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