As civil society organisations, we are extremely disturbed by the increasing racism and communal politics in the country with the recent harassment of a community based organisation, the Penang Arts Education Society (Arts-Ed).

The systematic intimidation and attack on Arts-Ed , whose sole purpose is to promote arts education, especially among Penang children and youths , have alarmed Penangites in particular as well as fellow Malaysians.

A number of us and our children have attended the arts and crafts exhibitions; enjoyed music, dance and dramatic performances; and appreciated the workshops and showcases that Arts-Ed has conducted over the past decade to make Penangites more aware of its cultural heritage and local history.

It is disturbing to note how Arts-Ed's recently published newsletter myBalikpulau has been politicised and used for racial-mongering by unscrupulous politicians and irresponsible NGOs.

MyBalikpulau is an oral history project that showcases the collective efforts of children and Arts-Ed facilitators who interviewed the elders in Balik Pulau, Penang and presented their version of the history of Balik Pulau and its residents in a most interesting manner.

Anyone who has read myBalikpulau would be impressed by the achievements of the team who must have worked hard to unearth such important historical facts about the local community. For us, this newsletter makes history come alive unlike most History text books.

We are therefore appalled that some politicians have stooped so low as to racialise a children's project into a political tool so as to cause divisions in our community.

Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhammad Farid Saad had accused Arts Ed of deliberately twisting history and insulting the Malays in Penang.

Worse, the issue was quickly politicised resulting in acrimonious exchanges, unnecessarily heightening ethnic tensions for many who had not even seen or read myBalikpulau .

In the heat of these exchanges, several NGOs have accused Arts-Ed of insulting Malays, and have since lodged 15 police reports against the organisation. The accusations range from the use of particular words to the appropriateness of the drawings in the newsletter.

From our viewpoint, these are minute details in a newsletter which is very inclusive and multiethnic in its overall content and presentation. myBalikpulau , should be regarded as a praiseworthy effort on the part of young people in Penang to recover Balik Pulau's historical and cultural heritage.

In this regard, it is disappointing that the Penang State government was more concerned about clarifying that it was the previous State government and even the federal Ministry of Tourism that had sponsored the project.

It should have taken the time to read myBalikpulau and discover what a commendable and inclusive product it is and come to the defense of Penang's children and youths.

We regret that myBalikpulau has been politicised and appeal for the immediate halt of harassment of Arts-Ed. Leaders and politicians must be working towards promoting harmony and multi-ethnicity for all Malaysians instead of inciting racialised politics.

There must be respect for the civil society organisations who are doing their best to celebrate the diversity of our history and heritage through varying artistic expressions of histories.

The writer represents Women’s Centre for Change, Penang, and the letter is on behalf of 32 NGOs:

1. 528 Media Action Group

2. Aliran

3. All Women's Action Society (AWAM)

4. Badan Warisan Malaysia

5. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) Malaysia

6. Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI)

7. Civil Rights Committee of KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH)

8. Coalition of Good Governance, Penang

9. Community Action Network (CAN)

10. Diskopi Penang

11. Friends of Penang Botanic Gardens Society

12. JERIT

13. Kumpulan Daya Tindakan Wanita Sabah (SAWO)

14. LLG Cultural Development Centre, Penang

15. Lost Generation Gallery

16. Ombak Ombak ARTStudio

17. Penang Chinese Independent Schools' Education Society

18. Penang Heritage Trust

19. Persatuan Penduduk Taman Desa Baru

20. Persatuan Bahasa Tionghua USM

21. Persatuan Belia Graduan Pulau Pinang

22. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor (PSWS)

23. Pertubuhan Wartawan dan Jurugambar Akhbar Cina Pulau Pinang (Pewaju)

24. Project Connect

25. Reka Art Space

26. Sembang-Sembang

27. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)

28. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)

29. Tanjong Bunga Residents' Association

30. Tenaganita

31. Women's Aid Organisation (WAO)

32. Women's Centre for Change (WCC), Penang