The National Muslim Students Association (PKPIM) today snubbed BN chairperson and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s offer to accept NGOs as affiliate members of the coalition.

NONE This is because NGOs cannot perform their proper functions if they act partially, said its president Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz in a statement today.

“It is our view that the main purpose of NGOs is to be an avenue for the people to voice out their concerns, and to check that the government is acting in the rakyat’s interest.

 

“Therefore, a non-partisanship and independence must be fundamental principles of a civil society movement,” he said.

While he said he appreciates the fact that BN has evidently realized the important of NGOs in nation building, Muhammad Faisal said that political affiliation will only serve undermine NGO idealism.

“Activists and NGO leaders must not be bound by political ties and political fanaticism which would squeeze out the idealism of the civil society struggle,” he said.

PKPIM is not the first NGO to snub Najib’s offer, with right wing Malay-base Perkasa claiming that it has no interest to join BN.

Like the student organization, Perkasa believes that it should remain independent and will work with either side of the political spectrum based on their stand on different issues.

The BN supreme council yesterday agreed to amend its constitution to introduce direct associate and affiliate memberships effective immediately.