1. The Malaysian Insider (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com)
Groups form consultative body to defend Malay rights, Islam
By G. Manimaran
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 — About 50 groups today launched the Malay NGO Consultative Council (MPM) to defend Malay rights and Islam at the historic Sultan Sulaiman Club here, where a similar gathering nearly 60 years ago led to the formation of Umno.
Among the prime movers are Perkasa, ex-Umno lawmakers council Mubarak, Peninsula Malay Students Confederation (GPMS), Malay Professional Thinkers Association and Cuepacs.
The Malaysian Insider was barred from reporting the event but a media release said among those who spoke were Perkasa president and Pasir Mas MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali (picture), Mubarak chief Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang and Malay Professional Thinkers president Professor Datuk Dr Kamaruddin Kachar who is a former director-general of the National Civics Bureau (BTN) which the opposition claims spreads hate ideology.
The MPM was launched by GPMS president Jais Abd Karim followed by a dialogue and a signing ceremony to form the body.
The MPM press release said “following several discussions by several Malay NGO leaders, there was a desire for a consultative council to bring together as many Malay NGOs concerned about current developments faced by the Malays”.
“It is apparent that there is pressure on Malay rights and privileges in their own country, towards the position of Islam as the official religion, the position and sovereignty of the Malay Rulers that is always being questioned, the New Economic Policy that is being sidelined despite the lack of achievement by the Malays and also national security,” it said.
These are among several “sensitive” issues for the Malays which have become provocative matters by those who want to destroy the security and prosperity of the country, the statement added.
The statement said the consultative council is not a platform for confrontation unless they are forced by parties described as those “inciting” racial tension.
“The main function of this council is to act as a medium to gather Malay NGOs that share the same stand to handle pressures faced by the Malays, Islam, Malay Rulers, national security, public order and other related issues,” the statement said, adding the idea to form the body was made early last month.
The MPM will form a task force that will be chaired by council members in rotation.
The statement also said the MPM had resolved each member should jointly study issues important to the Malays, Islam, Malay Rulers, national security and public order that is brought up or questioned by others, or to be championed by the community.
Others include the preparation and implementation of action plans to handle or oppose provocations against issues that relate to Malays and Islam, or issues seen as inciting or hateful.
The resolutions decided by MPM are:
• Resolutions must be based on facts and documents tabled at lawful MPM meetings;
• MPM members who disagree with the resolutions must accept the decision of the majority and be prepared to sign the agreed resolutions;
• MPM members who refuse or abstain from resolutions or decisions can choose not to sign off without affecting their membership; and
• If any MPM member opposes any of its resolutions or decisions, they will automatically cease to be members.
2. Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com)
(1) 76 NGOs form council to defend Malay rights, 27 February 2010
Seventy-six Malay non-governmental organisations today joined forces to form a consultative council, Majlis Perundingan NGO Melayu (MPM), to defend Malays right and Islam in the country.
Among them were Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Negara (Perkasa), Majlis Bekas Wakil Rakyat Malaysia (Mubarak), Federation of Malay Students Association of Peninsular Malaysia (GPMS, Malay Professional Thinkers Association of Malaysia and Cuepacs, the umbrella union for civil servants.
Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali, who acted as the council's spokesman, said the council's role was to act as a shield against those who tried to question Malay rights and privileges, the position of Islam and and the institution of the Malay rulers.
"At the same time, we will also be a polite pressure group to the government not to shirk from its responsibility in upholding fundamental matters as enshrined in Article 153 of the Federal Constitution," he told reporters at the launching ceremony of MPM at the Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kuala Lumpur.
Roundtable on March 7
He said MPM members would hold a roundtable on March 7 to discuss the economic direction of the Malays following Prime Minister Najib Razak's announcing of the new economic model for the nation.
"We also hope to meet the prime minister before the new economic model is announced because we do not want Malay NGOs to be "making noise" to voice their dissatisfaction over it... we want any policy made by the government to get support from all quarters.
"However, the government should also be proactive to Malay NGOs... meaning there should be give and take... if the government wants the support of NGOs, the government should also give due consideration to our views and feelings," said the member of parliament for Pasir Mas.
In MPM's statement circulated to media members present, the council asserted that its members must scrutinise each issue that had a bearing on the interest of the Malays, Islam, the Malay rulers and security and harmony in the country irrespective of who raised or questioned them and that they also highlight matters that are dear to the Malays.
Besides this, MPM said it would also prepare and implement an action plan to counter any provocation on matters that touch on the interests of Malays and Islam if they were construed as efforts by irresponsible parties to spread hatred.
(Bernama)
(2)‘Use ISA to protect Malay-Muslim rights', 1 September 2009
by Rahmah Ghazali
Malay NGO Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) has called for the scope and function of the Internal Security Act (ISA) to be enlarged to protect Malay-Muslim rights.
(End)
