Two Penang-based environmental NGOs have strongly condemned the statement by Jasa director-general Fuad Hassan, who had allegedly said that the duo had plans to topple the BN government.

Jasa is the department of special affairs under the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry.

NONE Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) president SM Mohamed Idris ( centre in photo ) said the employees of both organisations are extremely upset over the remarks, which among others, claimed that they had been "silent" over the indiscriminate logging case in Tasik Pedu and Gunung Inas, Kedah.

Idris said that the allegations by Fuad, who reportedly made the comment in Alor Setar on Monday, Feb 19 was "baseless and highly defamatory".

"I do not know who is this person, but his statement is vicious and uncalled for. His remarks that we are out to topple the government and are unpatriotic, is unfair and unprofessional," Idris said at a press conference in Penang.

"We have been around for 40 years, and have campaigned for issues for the benefit of various communities," he added, pointing to the various paper-cuttings of the NGOs' work on environmental issues which have been pinned up on the office walls.

NONE "He must be a small political operator, because he suddenly appeared out of the blue to make these comments. Our record is very clear for all to see, we do not favour anyone," he stressed.

Idris was referring to an article in Malay-language tabloid Kosmo which quoted Fuad as saying that CAP and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) have been vocal in criticising logging in Sarawak or Sabah, but had not done the same when it happens in Kedah or Kelantan.

"They did not reprehend or criticise the Kedah government (led by PAS), whereas all that involves the federal government is politicised, as if they have no patriotism at all," Fuad had reportedly told a group of 200 youths who attended the Santai Orang Muda programme in Penang.

"The double-standard attitude of the NGOs can be guessed at as their agenda is consistent with the agenda of foreign NGOs that are probably funding their movement in Malaysia," Fuad had reportedlyclaimed.

NONE To this, Idris has responded that Fuad should get his facts right before criticising the NGOs - which the former both heads - adding that they had raised the issue of logging in the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve, an important water catchment area, since 2003.

Penang gov't also criticised

He added that CAP and SAM had previously written to the relevant authorities and issued press statements on forest destruction in Gunung Raya in Langkawi, Rimba Teloi in Sik, Bukit Perak in Pendang, Gunung Bongsu in Kulim, and Gunung Inas and Pedu.

"We have also taken the Penang government to task for their approval of hill development projects and mega projects , including an underwater tunnel linking Gurney Drive and Bagan Dalam," he noted.

"We spoke up on the three highways - a bypass connecting Gurney Drive to Dr Lim Chong Eu expressway, a link between Bandar Baru Air Itam to the same expressway and dual-link road connecting Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang which would have serious environment impacts," he added.

NONE CAP and SAM's vocal criticisms have sometimes put them on a collision course with the state Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng ( left ).

The two NGOs have recently whacked the Penang Municipal Council for its tree-cutting proposal to develop roads to resolve traffic congestion.

Idris said that Fuad's alleged statement constitutes "a very serious libel" on CAP and SAM.

"We will be referring the matter to our lawyers for the necessary action to be taken. We are not vindictive, but we cannot let this go unchallenged," said Idris.

"We did not do anything illegal or seditious. We just want to draw the public attention to social and environmental issues affecting the community.

"We do not have a hidden agenda. Until now, we do not know what Fuad wants. He seems to be a small-time politician who uses rubbish words," he added.