Letter to the Editor
A Sweeping Allegation against NGOs
We refer to your report, "Drop the Corruption Issue, says MTUC", in which Mr G Rajasekeran, the MTUC Secretary-general, was quoted as having said, "He reassured the MTUC that he did not in any way imply that trade unions received the money, but was in fact referring to the NGOs". (The Sun, page 7, April 25, 2001).
In a new twist to an earlier allegation attributed to N Sivasubramaniam, the Cuepacs president, that the opposition politicall parties had pumped RM100 million into trade unions to buy over the unions to serve their cause, it now appears that the recipients are the Malaysian NGOs.
While Siva had dismissed the earlier claim by Rajasekaran as "wild and rubbish", he had not rebutted or denied the fresh allegation attributed to him which implicates the Malaysian NGOs.
If it is true that Siva had indeed stated that Malaysian NGOs had received RM100 million from opposition political parties to do their bidding, it is an appalling statement which disparages the NGOs in a very callous manner.
This is the kind of statement one can expect from unscrupulous politicians who are fond of making sweeping statements with no respect for truth or justice. But it is totally unacceptable for a unionist to make such a sweeping allegation.
There are many NGOs who do a lot of yeoman service, which demands great sacrifice, time and effort because of their love for humanity. It is absolutely unfair to disparage them indiscriminately as pawns of opposition political parties.
We are not bothered whether this allegation was made at a formal meeting or during an informal conversation. What is important is whether Siva made this allegation.
Apparently, as we understand by the Sun's reporting, besides MTUC president Zainal Rampak, deputy president Mohd Shafie BP Mammal and vice-president Indera Putra Ismail, officers from the Human Resources Ministry were also present when this allegation was made.
It is incumbent on these trade union officials who were privy to this conversation to speak up either to confirm or deny this allegation. Truth demands it.
As for Siva, he should enlighten the Malaysian public as to the source of his information. Did the IGP brief him? Or did the Minister of Home Affairs share this confidential information with him? Such highly classified information is not easily available to any Tom, Dick and Harry.
Siva also owes it as a duty to reveal the names of the NGOs on the payroll of the opposition political parties. Justice demands it. This irresponsible and sweeping statement attributed to him condemns and tarnishes the reputation of every NGO in the country.
A trade unionist must always be seen as someone concerned with truth and justice. It would be a tragedy for the union movement if Siva is perceived as someone running with the hare and hunting with the hounds.
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