September 23, 2012
Prof Khoo on Foreign Funding for NGOs
By V. Shankar Ganesh and Nabila Sabri| news@nst.com.my
PROF Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim said foreign funding for non-governmental organisations makes the public very uncomfortable and suspicious of the recipients. “It also makes one to question whether the NGOs are in it for the money or for a cause.”
“They claim to fight for justice and human rights, but foreign funding raises so many questions. It’s not morally right to receive such funding, but if you have to get it, please declare it publicly,” said the nation’s well-known historian, who also sits on the board of Integrity Institute of Malaysia.
Khoo said laws should be formulated to make it compulsory for NGOs to declare their sources of foreign funding. He added that this would remove ambiguities on the source of funding and the public would then have no qualms over their agendas.
He said these in response to the New Straits Times front-page report yesterday on several NGOs having received foreign funding amounting to some RM20 million between 2005 and last year.
National Council of Welfare and Social Development Malaysia chairman 
Datuk Halim Ibrahim echoed Khoo’s call for laws which made it compulsory to declare funding sources.
“We, too, get foreign funding and have no problem about it as our objective is to provide welfare and carry out social activities. But if activities take a political slant, then foreign funding is an issue.
“Based on what I have read, it looks like a pre-planned attempt to jeopardise the nation’s stability.”
He said NGOs needed to make their objectives clear.Halim said if NGOs with political inclinations received foreign funding, they may be inadvertently used for ulterior motives as the funder may have some other interest in the nation.
“To avoid all these issues, avoid such funds, but if still needed, declare them openly. It’s just better if NGOs declared their foreign funders, be they political or otherwise.”
It was reported that investigations into the financial background of several NGOs had uncovered attempts by foreign hands to destabilise the government.
Sources revealed that from 2005 to last year, almost RM20 million, courtesy of the Washington-based National Endowment for Democracy had allegedly been channelled to Suaram (RM1.6 million); National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (RM4.6 million); Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd (RM298,000); and others (RM13.3 million).
Din Merican: the Malaysian DJ Blogger 
The Najib government is scared of its own shadow. The NGO funding issue is to divert our attention from his weak leadership and inept administration. I wonder who is funding Perkasa, Perkida, and other right wing Malay organizations. It is known that Biro Tata Negara (BTN) is funded by taxpayers money to spread hatred against other Malaysians. Why doesn’t the government come clean on this matter.
Civil society organisations have been very active and effective in recent years and that can only be good for democracy in our country. Civil society leaders are speaking up on issues that are of public interest and are not interested in overthrowing the government of the day. The decision to choose a government rests with Malaysian voters. Is Najib afraid to face the people? Is that reason he is delaying GE-13. Gadom acha hei.
He is a traitor & ball licker
It is hard not to agree with our Skih brother Gurdashan’s comments on the issue of NGO funding. Transparency is required from the Najib government as well. I want to know who funds Perkasa and its chief from Pasir Mas who drives a Bentley.
The NGO community is doing a a great job for ordinary Malaysians. Since we cannot rely on the mainstream media, their websites and blogs are providing alternative sources of information. I say well done to all civil society leaders.
To Prof. Khoo who is known to me personally, I say surely there are ways of making a decent living. Bodeking the government when it is wrong is not the way. Since he belongs to my generation, I would like add that in the name of personal dignity he should stand for what is right. He should not try to make what is wrong look right. –Din Merican
“Is Najib afraid to face the people” — Guru Singh
No sir, he cannot do both at the same time. Not while he is giving head to Jaswant Singh.
Well said, Pak Din.
I would add that as Muslims the injunction of “Amr bil Ma’ruf wa Nahy an al Munkar (امر بالمعروف و نهى عن المنكر) – “Command the good and forbid the evil” is the standard that applies to all action and inaction (i.e. complicity).
Therefore, making what is haram suddenly halal (in your words above, “make what is wrong look right”) is a form of shirk, and so I humbly submit that the BN government and its apologists consider carefully if they are willing to stand in front of their Creator and Sustainer at the End of Days and justify their actions and continued hypocrisy and kufr (denial of the truth).
The issue is not one of funding but one of foreign influence that comes with the funds that some NGOs are alleged to have received. But Najib facing the people? No sir. He cannot do both i.e. face the people and give head to Bendover Singh at the same time.
“It’s not morally right to receive such funding” — Prof. Khoo
Prof. Khoo needs to cool down. That or his brain i.e. the little he has left, gets fried. What has morals gotta do with anything?
Khoo is right. I’ve written about this before. Look at the laws and values overseas on foreign funding for domestic political determination. Suaram is not a human rights platform. It has without doubt political motivation. If we are to have political funding transformation, foreign funding is a key issue. Those who are partisan justify everything for what is wrong. Selling their soul to the devils. And when disagree call people bodeking. This is typical pr non sense. Thinking everyone with contrarian view cannot think. When confronted they’re unable to defend and start censoring and banning people’s views.
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What crap are you talking about? You are like Mr. Ilham and maybe you are him. Maybe you know how Perkasa is funded? –Din Merican
To grow democracy, it has to begin with the current Political parties opening their books to Parliamentary audit, on where and who from they receive their funding. Start with the political parties then have all NGO present their audited accounts for public examination. Sooner we know the background of their funding, the better we understand their platforms.
Lemme see, all this is gonna blow up in the Goons face big-time.
Not pleasant, seeing how ugly they already are.
The hypocrisy, farce and grumblings of ‘foreign’ funding (paltry at that) in NGOs’ is a last ditch effort in stoking xenophobia, the last stronghold of irredeemable despots.
Sorry i don’t know Prof Whatever from Adams, but yes, he should shut his kangkung (that’s a vegetable called morning glory) up. We don’t have time for Emeriti who have selective memories and jaundiced motives.
What interest’s me in the Scorpene ding-a-ling is that the investigation papers seem to show a link with the sale of military secrets by a bosom buddy of the present PM, to a foreign commercial entity. Now that’s what i would consider TREASON.
Ellese,
How do you explain the proliferation of think tanks globally and in Malaysia? Are you saying that there are laws that prevent think tanks like ISIS, MSRC, IAIS, IDEAS, MIMA and SERI and IDEAS from getting foreign funding on the issues they lobby for? Many of these if not all are partisan. There is nothing sinister about foreign funding on the issues they work on and lobby. Unless you have not noticed that globalization has made this possible and necessary. The fact that some of these think tanks have gone on to develop their own ideologies or identify themselves with one and not the other should not without more make them targets for allegations that they are instruments of foreign governments or agencies.
Ergo, Suaram is a human rights organization working together with international agencies as watchdog to develop inter alia awareness and educate Malaysians on the issue of human rights in Malaysia and may have received foreign funding for its role. There is nothing sinister about that. In the past allegations have been made against the Bar Council for acting like a political party by guess who? The Old Goat himself, that the Bar Council should register itself as a political party and contest the elections. That has not gained traction. Incidentally it is the same old goat who called on the country’s Lord President to resign and contest the elections like he did. It would make more sense for Najib today to call on Suaram to register itself as a political party and contest the general elections. Instead he has chosen to make Suaram the boogeyman and threatens its officers with incarceration.
Do you honestly think Malaysians and the international community will buy into that?
Malaysians cannot be duped into thinking that that is what is bothering Najib as Prime Minister. There is the Tuya Factor to consider.
Good suggestion by Ranen Bhattachararyya – but if political parties can’t or are slow to agree to that, do it on all the NGOs first, Perkasa & the like included.
Is Gerakan a political party? If it is, then is Sedar Institute or Wawasan University political set-ups? Then why Prof Khoo and Ellese, is Friedrich Naumann funding these institutions?
Professor Khoo, Dr Chandra Mudzaffar, Tunku Abdul Aziz… hmmm not a bad line-up of has beens by Najib’s camp…
What will the Malaysian government do next after putting Suaram leaders in jail? Sadly from there it is but one short stop to putting our musicians in jail and Malaysians too will be joining the long line of protesters screaming “Free Pussy Riot!!” To no avail because more pussies will be coming off the conveyor belt.
Yup. The Ruskies are saying it, “We’re all pussy riots!”
Funny, how does he knows that, “foreign funding for non-governmental organisations makes the public very uncomfortable and suspicious of the recipients – Where does he gets his information from and with what yard stick that he came up with such thought.
Prof Khoo further stressed that, “It also makes one to question whether the NGOs are in it for the money or for a cause.” – But we all know BN is solely about money whereas NGOs causes are registered and open for all to scrutinise. Like what Suaram is now experiencing. That cannot be said for BN’s methods of interpreting the laws at their wits and flimsy to protect themselves.
This article is only serving to politicise for BN. Why not the honourable Prof continue his teaching and retire gracefully. You have in fact done a great disservice for not putting rights all the wrongs of Malaysia History when you have all the opportunity.
Isn’t our economy no fuel by foreign funding like those in the stock exchanged. Does not our banks borrowed from foreign banks which is also a kind of foreign funding. Did not our government borrowed from foreign international banks to sustain Malaysia’s economy?
This government is always turning and twisting like a sly evil eel.
Why go after Suaram when they want justice over the kickbacks on the scorpenne when it involves with politicians. What was the original intention of the government to only scruntise Suaram by CCM and not other NGOs like PERKASA? Don’t give crap answers when the French Court takes up the case revealing the truth of the commissions that involved with politicians. When hat fits, just wear it.
This prof ate too much kangkung so much so he link every damn thing with morality. By the way, does he has any in the first place? He still treat his twisted logic as gospel.
Professor Khoo’s statement does not seem to analyse what causes the harassment by CCM at this time on Suaram when they got involved with a case in France over the DCNS with regard to commissions that have been revealed where they could not get justice from the Malaysian courts. SUARAM as a Human Rights Group is an apolitical group that also sits in the UN on Human Rights Council.
BN is using the Prof and also Tunku as target practise to take pot-shot at the oppositions and NGOs.
Lets talk money, Najib 2 Billon or more campaign vs 20 million by various small NGO 20 million, BN various Billionares, yes not millionares, the many GLC and their funding sources and etc etc etc, so BN is afraid despite this…similarly their virtual monopoly of public reach , funds media etc till today. I think this is it., they cannot come forth in a way that is meritous, thence now they lay ground work for the next ops lalang citing all of this, and not hold a free and fair election. unless malaysians themselves deny them in a overwhelming way in the ballot box and send them packing , i see them continue their bullying behaviour and not to mention the national rape/plunder that has occured for a long time. its time to really shut the ears to these guys . What efforts are being made to ensure a large voter turnout, now this would be the real mitigant and factor in the outcome?
Western ghat in Theni dist,Tamilnadu,India. Hilly tribals living ina remot of the hill ,so no for education, health, and economic states is very low and new forest policy is againest for tribal life
Tribal development