NGOs must be open to criticism
Catherine Jones<br>PenangPublished: Jan 22, 2001 7:43 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
I refer to the Women's Crisis Centre's response to a story by Susan Loone, [#1]To the beat of a different drummer[/#] (Jan 16), with interest. I am from Penang and an editor of a newspaper. I have heard about WCC.
Frankly, I don't see why the fuss. The story merely highlighted Salasiah's plight and her own account regarding her termination from WCC. The writer did not make any analysis nor comment indicating that WCC was the guilty party. Saying that the story smacks of innuendoes against the organisation is merely a matter of interpretation or a case of "siapa makan cili dia rasa pedas".
While I agree that maybe the writer should have clarified the matter with WCC, in feature writing, it is not necessary. Many of us, especially the NGOs, have written commentaries, analysis and letters condemning the prime minister and party aides. Does malaysiakini need to contact Dr Mahathir and seek his clarification on all accounts?
While I respect NGOs and their contribution to society, I feel that NGOs must also be open to criticism. If you have the right to criticise the government for alleged misconduct, then you, NGOs, should also be "man" enough to face criticism hurled against you. You are more accountable in the sense that you preach justice, human rights and all that stuff.
It is not fair to attack the writer on a personal basis. Whether the writer knows her subject as a friend or not cannot change the facts of the story (which had been simply outlined). This is not the first time that I have read about Salasiah. USM's Suara Wanita had highlighted her plight some time ago and the facts vis a vis her termination are rather similar.
WCC's defensive attitude only goes to show that perhaps there are skeletons in the closet. The guilty party, whether it is Salasiah or WCC will be revealed when the Industrial court makes its decision.
Please allow me to congratulate malaysiakini and especially the writer Susan Loone for always highlighting the plight of the lower class, the estate workers, women's issues and foreign workers. Mainstream media would put aside these topics thinking that it is of no real human value. But malaysiakini as I have come to know and love it is different. You cover topics very close to your readers' hearts.
Lastly, please do not hold back from revealing injustices that occur within the opposition party and NGOs, instead of merely concentrating on the government - these are the things that make your paper really balanced and fair.
Frankly, I don't see why the fuss. The story merely highlighted Salasiah's plight and her own account regarding her termination from WCC. The writer did not make any analysis nor comment indicating that WCC was the guilty party. Saying that the story smacks of innuendoes against the organisation is merely a matter of interpretation or a case of "siapa makan cili dia rasa pedas".
While I agree that maybe the writer should have clarified the matter with WCC, in feature writing, it is not necessary. Many of us, especially the NGOs, have written commentaries, analysis and letters condemning the prime minister and party aides. Does malaysiakini need to contact Dr Mahathir and seek his clarification on all accounts?
While I respect NGOs and their contribution to society, I feel that NGOs must also be open to criticism. If you have the right to criticise the government for alleged misconduct, then you, NGOs, should also be "man" enough to face criticism hurled against you. You are more accountable in the sense that you preach justice, human rights and all that stuff.
It is not fair to attack the writer on a personal basis. Whether the writer knows her subject as a friend or not cannot change the facts of the story (which had been simply outlined). This is not the first time that I have read about Salasiah. USM's Suara Wanita had highlighted her plight some time ago and the facts vis a vis her termination are rather similar.
WCC's defensive attitude only goes to show that perhaps there are skeletons in the closet. The guilty party, whether it is Salasiah or WCC will be revealed when the Industrial court makes its decision.
Please allow me to congratulate malaysiakini and especially the writer Susan Loone for always highlighting the plight of the lower class, the estate workers, women's issues and foreign workers. Mainstream media would put aside these topics thinking that it is of no real human value. But malaysiakini as I have come to know and love it is different. You cover topics very close to your readers' hearts.
Lastly, please do not hold back from revealing injustices that occur within the opposition party and NGOs, instead of merely concentrating on the government - these are the things that make your paper really balanced and fair.
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