Well expected!
Since Perkasa made it public last week that it received funding from the government, other NGOs and organisations (some of which were established long before Perkasa) will not only question the motive but also the 'right' of others to the money.
We don't have the exact figure of how many 'for-the-Malay groupings' are there in the country but the thing here is - if we give to one, we must give to others too.
And today, at least two 'badan yang memperjuangkan hak Melayu' (defender of Malay rights groups) came out of nowhere to demand such 'fund'.
The NGOs felt dejected and frustrated that Perkasa is being treated as a 'the most senior Malay rights defender' when many others have to move along with their own pocket money (I thought NGOs are non-profiteering and must raise their own fund).
However, that's the problem about money. You can't be seen as giving to one or two and neglecting many others.
Yes, it is normal that these NGOs get funding from various sources but when it comes to the government, everybody must be equally treated, right?
Since Perkasa made it public last week that it received funding from the government, other NGOs and organisations (some of which were established long before Perkasa) will not only question the motive but also the 'right' of others to the money.
We don't have the exact figure of how many 'for-the-Malay groupings' are there in the country but the thing here is - if we give to one, we must give to others too.
And today, at least two 'badan yang memperjuangkan hak Melayu' (defender of Malay rights groups) came out of nowhere to demand such 'fund'.
Will there be more?With the funding sources of Perkasa disclosed, two Malay-Muslim NGOs, Martabat Jalinan Muhibbah Malaysia (MJMM) and Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma), are crying foul over the government favouring the right wing Malay movement over them.The two NGOs, which are similarly involved in defending Malay and Muslim rights in the country, said they, too, want recognition and some of these funds.
MJMM president Abdul Rani Kulup Abdullah said they suspected that Perkasa had government backing, but it had not been made this clear before.
"Now, with it revealed that Perkasa has government funding... I feel it's not fair if only Perkasa alone gets the funds," Rani said in a text message to Malaysiakini today.
"We are moving along with our own pocket money... so I urge the government to carefully review again the funds for NGOs."
MJMM has been actively policing the social media, such as Facebook, and has filed several police reports against those allegedly insulting Muslims or Malays online.
It is also among the NGOs that in October called on police to investigate DAP MP Tony Pua for labelling Utusan Malaysia and the Registrar of Societies (ROS) as 'anjing Umno' (running dogs for Umno) in a online posting.
MJMM is also protesting against price hikes and higher cost of living, Rani said.
Isma: It's not Umno's generosity
Earlier this week Perkasa admitted that it had received funding from agencies such as the National Security Council (MKN), National Civics Bureau (BTN) and the Special Affairs Department (Jasa), which come under the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.
Isma is similarly unhappy that government funds are not handed out more evenly.
"Umno cannot bring it up as if it is their generosity (to fund Perkasa)," Isma's president Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman ( right ) said.
"Until now, I have not seen the government truly acknowledge the role of NGOs in building up the community, especially Malay and Islamic NGOs."
The NGOs felt dejected and frustrated that Perkasa is being treated as a 'the most senior Malay rights defender' when many others have to move along with their own pocket money (I thought NGOs are non-profiteering and must raise their own fund).
However, that's the problem about money. You can't be seen as giving to one or two and neglecting many others.
Yes, it is normal that these NGOs get funding from various sources but when it comes to the government, everybody must be equally treated, right?