Hisham: Foreign funds for NGOs pose security risk

Hishammuddin said all instances of foreign funding affected Malaysia’s independence and safety.—File pic

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 21 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein today voiced concern about foreign funding received by some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the country.

He said anything that involved foreign funding would obviously have repercussions on the country’s independence and safety.

Commenting on a report alleging some RM20 million foreign funding paid to several Malaysian NGOs since 2005, Hishammuddin said although he was surprised that the matter had taken quite a while to come into light, his ministry would monitor the situation.

“This matter is in the hand of the Attorney-General and the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) is providing the information.

“Our top priority and responsibility is to ensure safety and we have been monitoring this since long ago, as well as the inflow and outflow of foreign funding and trips made by certain leaders because it involves the status and sovereignty of the country. This the most important responsibility entrusted to the ministry,” he said.

Earlier, Hishammuddin received a courtesy call from leaders of Students’ Volunteer Police and Civil Defence Corps at his office here, where they also discussed the ministry’s objectives and agendas concerning youth, volunteerism and safety.

The minister said majority of the young people in the country today were already fed up with the politics of hate and were looking for more constructive programmes where they could participate in the nation’s development agenda.

“They also gave some ideas about the programmes and it will be announced when the time comes,” he said. — Bernama