Syed Azmi temporarily recalled by welfare body after removal sparks outrage

The removal of community activists Syed Azmi Alhabshi, Che Asmah Ibrahim and Tan Kok Keat from their positions at the Yayasan Kebajikan Negara (YKN) sparked widespread outrage from supporters who claimed that it was a politically motivated move.

The outrage seemed to galvanise the office of Women and Family Development Minister Rina Harun into action, as they swiftly asked Syed Azmi to continue to assist the YKN until the end of the Covid-19 outbreak.

"YB Rina's office called and requested that I assist the team," he said in a Facebook post an hour ago.

According to Syed Azmi, Rina's office apologised for the manner of his termination as a board member and even talked about a reinstatement once a new CEO is appointed but he is only keen on serving until the end of the Covid-19 period.

Yesterday, Syed Azmi and Tan received letters from the newly appointed minister Rina dated March 26 stating that their roles as board trustee members of the welfare foundation were being terminated with immediate effect.

Che Asmah's letter states that her services as CEO will be terminated on March 31. When contacted, Che Asmah confirmed that she received the termination letter as well and that no such temporary request to serve had been made to her.

"Syed Azmi can continue on a voluntary basis, but he is no more a board member.

"My position also stopped as instructed. Anything further you have to refer to the minister," she told Malaysiakini.

Yesterday, when Syed Azmi took to Facebook to say he was grateful for the opportunity to serve and joked about losing his parking space, hundreds of his supporters expressed their disgust over the move.

Former deputy minister Hannah Yeoh was in disbelief and praised the "simple and basic yet effective transformation accomplished by Yayasan Kebajikan Negara's leadership" before the termination by the new minister.

 "This is the worst kind of politics, when the Sheraton Move ends up ousting top activists like Syed Azmi and Tan only because they were appointed by (Rina's predecessor) Dr Wan Azizah (Wan Ismail).

"When it comes to charity work, Rina needs to learn from NGOs!" said Yeoh, who is also Segambut MP.

She said that while helming the ministry, she and Wan Azizah realised the importance of working with NGOs on welfare issues.

"It's time we put their skills to use, unfortunately Rina fired them including Che Asmah.

"When it comes to welfare issues, no politician is better than NGOs.”

She urged Rina to put her pride aside and consider that Wan Azizah's political appointments “aren't necessarily bad."

Child activist Hartini Zainudin was dismayed at the decision and also asked Rina to reconsider.

"Syed Azmi is not a political appointee. He’s a child activist, a person who has long stood for social justice and righting the wrong and bringing comfort to the most vulnerable amongst us.

"There are not many people I know who are as kind and as hardworking and good as this man," she said.

"My message to this new minister - please reconsider your decision. Do not throw out the good with the bad. I understand your desire to want to rid yourself of any trace of the previous establishment and having your own people on the board, but please keep Syed Azmi," she urged.

Hundreds of Syed Azmi’s followers voiced their disgust over Rina's move with some claiming that he was removed after pleading in a video for the government to look after the interests of the marginalised in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Some of Syed Azmi's projects include FreeMarket, a regularly held market in which customers exchange wares for free; UmieAktif, which empowers underprivileged mothers in Chow Kit by selling their handmade crafts and Pit Stop Community Cafe, which feeds the urban poor and homeless based on a pay-as-you-like concept.

He has also campaigned against child sexual abuse as part of the Malaysian child sexual crimes task force.

Syed Azmi has yet to respond to Malaysiakini's requests for comment on the issue. - Mkini