No to exploiting NGOs, VWOs for political ends

MARUAH president Braema Mathi asks if government MPs serving on the boards of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) are not deriving political benefit from their associations ("What's the stand on politicians serving in NGOs and VWOs?"; last Saturday).

She further asks if the rules are the same for government MPs and for people associated with opposition politics - like Mr Nizam Ismail who recently resigned from the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP).

The rules are indeed the same for all. The Government supports many NGOs and VWOs. Government MPs who serve with them, as well as everybody else, must be clear that their role is to help achieve the particular social, cultural or educational goals of these bodies, and not to exploit these bodies for their own political ends.

The Government has been supporting AMP since 1990. It will continue to do so, so long as AMP remains focused on uplifting the Malay community.

But government support for AMP - or any other NGO - must cease if it lets itself be misused to advance the political interests of any group or individual. That was why back in 2000, then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong told AMP that he strongly opposed its proposal of a "collective leadership" comprising Malay leaders chosen exclusively by the community itself.

As Mr Goh noted, this proposal showed an "ambition" among some to push AMP into the political arena.

AMP leaders reconsidered the matter and dropped the proposal. Most among them realised the dangers of a community organisation morphing into an ethnic-based political entity and the risks of politics based on race and religion.

If any ethnic community were to organise itself politically, other communities would respond in kind. This would pull our different communities apart and destroy our racial harmony.

Mr Nizam has consistently used the AMP platform to promote himself. He has pushed for racial politics by trying to revive AMP's "collective leadership" proposal in the guise of a "community forum" led by AMP.

In strident postings on his personal blog and his Facebook group Suara Melayu Singapura (Voice of Malays, Singapore), he identifies himself as a key AMP figure.

Mr Nizam is entitled to pursue his political activities. But he should not use AMP as a platform and a cover to promote his race-based politics.

Ho Ka Wei
Director of Corporate Communications,
Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth
ST Forum, 29 Apr 2013

What's the stand on politicians serving in NGOs and VWOs?

I REFER to the statement by Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim to the effect that money given by the state to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) should not be used "for the purpose of creating a platform for people to be involved in partisan politics" ("AMP director quits, alleging official pressure"; Wednesday).

A number of People's Action Party (PAP) MPs currently serve as advisers or board members of VWOs and NGOs that are in receipt of state funds. While they may be serving in their personal capacities rather than in their capacity as MPs, their service would tend to generate visibility and political capital for these politicians and their political party, in this case, the PAP.

If politicians of only one party - the PAP - can serve in VWOs or NGOs that are positioned as non-partisan and accept state funds on that basis, while politicians of other parties cannot do so without the VWO or NGO being deemed partisan and ineligible for state funding for that reason alone, this is in effect politicising the VWO/NGO sector in favour of the ruling party.

Institutionalising such partisan double standards is deeply troubling and unhealthy for Singapore as a society.

We ask for a clear statement by the Government on the policy towards individual members of VWOs and NGOs engaging in (or being seen to engage in) party political activities in a separate capacity, be it with the ruling party or opposition parties. This is about equality and fair play.

Braema Mathi (Ms)
President
Maruah
ST Forum, 27 Apr 2013

* Ex-AMP director's proposal a repackaging of earlier idea

YESTERDAY'S report ("Ex-AMP director drops out of May Day protest") quoted Mr Nizam Ismail, former board director of the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP), as saying that he presented the Community Forum (ComFor) proposal as an innocuous idea that was raised at AMP's convention last June. He denied that it was a race-based approach to politics that he had personally pushed for.

In fact, ComFor was a repackaging of the earlier "Collective Leadership" proposal that the AMP had advanced in 2000. Then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong rejected that proposal and explained why it was unwise to set up a Malay national leadership chosen exclusively by the Malay community.

The AMP's report for its convention last year talked about "reposition(ing) MMOs (Malay/Muslim organisations) into organisations that engage a national, inter-ethnic, issue-oriented agenda".

Mr Nizam played a leading role at the convention and championed this idea strongly.

At the convention, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong opposed this idea. He cautioned AMP about venturing into civil society issues not primarily to do with the Malay/Muslim community. He reiterated that we should not discuss matters that concern all Singaporeans, organised into Malay groups, Chinese groups and Indian groups, each with a different ethnic perspective.

Such a racial basis to national affairs and politics would pull our people apart and destroy our racial harmony. This has been a consistent stand of the Singapore Government since 1959.

The Government was relieved that AMP eventually decided to abandon ComFor, after discussing the matter further after the convention.

We note that the same Straits Times report quoted AMP chairman Azmoon Ahmad as saying that the AMP wants to move on and continue with its mission for the community.

The Government looks forward to continue working with the AMP so long as its focus remains the uplifting of the Malay/Muslim community.

Ho Ka Wei

Director (Corporate Communications Division)

Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth

ST Forum, 2 May 2013

Ex-AMP director drops out of May Day protest

He calls move a 'personal protest' against allegations about him

By Robin Chan, The Straits Times, 1 May 2013

THE embattled former board director of the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP), Mr Nizam Ismail, has pulled out as a speaker in a planned May Day protest at Hong Lim Park today.

Mr Nizam, who left two AMP positions in a storm of controversy last week, said on his Facebook page yesterday that he was withdrawing "as a personal protest" against allegations that he used AMP for political reasons and self-promotion.

His resignation from AMP, which he claimed was prompted by official pressure, had raised public debate on the role of political figures in non-governmental organisations and voluntary welfare organisations.

The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) had said in a letter to The Straits Times Forum Page on Monday that Mr Nizam "should not use AMP as a platform and a cover to promote his race-based politics".

It added that Mr Nizam was trying to revive a controversial "collective leadership" proposal in the guise of a "Community Forum", which would push AMP, a Malay-Muslim self- help group, into the political arena.

Yesterday, Mr Nizam said in his blog post that his intentions have been "misperceived" and rejected accusations that he favoured a raced-based approach to politics here.

He also said the Community Forum (ComFor) proposal was not something he was pushing for himself. It was raised at AMP's convention last June and later dropped. The proposal was part of a series of ideas made known to the board and top political leaders before the convention, he added.

Mr Nizam, whose personal life has also come under scrutiny following reports in Malay language paper Berita Harian, did not address those reports directly but said his family had been subjected to "hatredness, vile and distortions".

He added that his decision will allow him and his family to "have some quiet time on May Day for us to heal and to restrengthen our bonds".

When contacted, AMP chairman Azmoon Ahmad said he agreed with Mr Nizam's comments on ComFor and was puzzled by the MCCY's reference to this in its letter.

"There was no cloaking of our intention. We shared openly with the establishment in the early phase of the process."

He added that he did not think Mr Nizam had used AMP for self-promotion but noted that it was difficult for Mr Nizam to separate what he did in his personal capacity from what he did as an AMP director.

Mr Azmoon also said the AMP has decided unanimously that it was time to move on. "We have to continue with the mission for the community, and we should not digress because of the incident last week."

AMP 'committed to serving Malay-Muslims'

By Andrea Ong, The Straits Times, 30 Apr 2013

THE Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) yesterday issued a statement that it hopes will bring closure to a controversy sparked by the resignation of former board director Nizam Ismail last week.

In the statement, AMP said it remains committed to its aim of serving the Malay-Muslim community. It intends to continue reaching out to the community and working with all parties which support its aspiration to build a "dynamic Muslim community".

AMP chairman Azmoon Ahmad said he called a board meeting last Friday where the nine directors present agreed unanimously on AMP's next course of action. "We must have closure and we want to move on and... stay focused on what we want to do."

In its 21 years, the self-help group has benefited more than 275,000 people from all walks of life, it said in its statement.

It is piloting a debt advisory centre, an idea raised at its convention last year.

AMP also said in its statement that it "continues to be guided by its core principles of being independent, non-partisan and working in collaboration with all parties that identify with and support its aspiration to build a dynamic Muslim community".

The controversy began on Tuesday last week when Mr Nizam announced his resignation as chairman of AMP's research arm and AMP board director.

He said he was informed by AMP that two ministers had taken issue with some online comments he made and that he had spoken at the Population White Paper protest in February and a Workers' Party youth wing forum in March.

He said he spoke in his personal capacity at both events but was told the Government would cut funding for AMP if he did not "tone down".

Mr Azmoon and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim rebutted his claims, saying that the Government did not interfere with the management of AMP.

Dr Yaacob also said that government money given to Malay-Muslim organisations must be for voluntary work to help the community, not for "creating a platform for people to be involved in partisan politics".

The episode has sparked debate on where to draw the line between involvement in non-governmental organisations and being partisan, both online and in an exchange of Straits Times Forum letters between the president of human rights group Maruah, Ms Braema Mathi, and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.

Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Zainal Sapari yesterday welcomed the statement from AMP. He said: "I do not doubt that they have and always will be committed in looking for ways to help the Malay community move forward."

AMP will resolve controversy, says chairman

He holds meeting to discuss allegations by director who resigned

By Maryam Mokhtar, The Sunday Times, 28 Apr 2013

Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) chairman Azmoon Ahmad held a meeting on Friday night to discuss the allegations raised by lawyer and civil society activist Nizam Ismail, who left the group last Monday.

Mr Nizam, 46, had said that he resigned as a board director and chairman of the association's research arm because the Government had threatened to cut AMP's funding after taking issue with his comments online and his participation in two political events.

His comments were rebutted by Mr Azmoon and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim, who said that the Government did not interfere with the management of the association.

"It is not the aim of AMP to give the impression that we are arguing," said Mr Azmoon in an interview with Malay-language daily Berita Harian published yesterday. "The more we argue among ourselves, it will only give the impression to our community that we are not united.

"But the bigger issue is whether we can sit at the same table and, should differences arise, solve them in an amicable manner... instead of just attacking one another."

Berita Harian described Mr Azmoon as emotional and close to tears when discussing the issue. He had just returned from a work trip to China on Friday night, and gone straight to AMP for the meeting.

He was quoted as saying that the issue should have been resolved amicably. "You can pick up a phone and discuss it. 'Hey, I have a few concerns, are you aware of these concerns?' Why can't we sit down at a table and discuss it instead of attacking one another. To me, this controversy does not make sense or bring any good."

He added that the AMP will resolve to put an end to the issue "so that it will not cause a split or harm the Malay/Muslim community", and would give an update on the situation in a day or two.

He declined to comment when contacted yesterday by The Sunday Times.

The saga started after Mr Nizam asserted last week that the AMP leadership had informed him that two ministers had "expressed concern" over some critical views he had put forth online, and his participation in the two events.

He declined to name the two ministers but said the AMP presented him with two options: Tone down his civil society activities or dissociate himself from the association.

Mr Azmoon however said on Tuesday that Mr Nizam had decided to resign "to avoid further misperception" that he reflected AMP's official stand on political and civil society issues.

The two political events in question were the Population White Paper protest at Speakers' Corner in February when Mr Nizam was a speaker, and a forum on race issues organised by the Workers' Party Youth Wing last month when he was on the panel.

Mr Nizam, who was the chairman of AMP from 2009 to 2011 and the founding president of Young AMP, told The Sunday Times yesterday that it was "not my intention to put AMP in a bad light", and explained that he announced his departure only to clarify the circumstances surrounding his resignation.

A Facebook group called Nizam Ismail Fights for Malay Rights was set up on Thursday. Mr Nizam said that he was not involved in setting up or administering the page.

He graduated from the National University of Singapore's law school in 1991 on a Public Service Commission Local Merit Scholarship. He is a former deputy public prosecutor and a former deputy director at the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Last September, he took issue with former minister of state Halimah Yacob's National Day Rally speech, saying it suggested that the reason the Malay-Muslim community has not succeeded "as much as we can is because we did not work hard".

AMP director quits, alleging official pressure

But minister and association chairman deny interference with its management

By Andrea Ong And Elgin Toh, The Straits Times, 24 Apr 2013

LAWYER and civil society activist Nizam Ismail, 46, resigned from the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) this week, a move he claimed was motivated by government intervention.

Mr Nizam - who stepped down on Monday as chairman of AMP's research arm and as an AMP board director - said he did so because the Government threatened to cut AMP's funding after taking issue with his comments online and his participation in two political events.

Both Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim and AMP chairman Azmoon Ahmad stressed, however, that the Government did not interfere with the management of the association.

In a statement yesterday, Mr Azmoon dismissed Mr Nizam's claims as "inaccurate".

"I would like to clarify that any suggestion that external parties whom AMP work with influence the decisions that I (as AMP chairman) or the AMP board make is inaccurate."

AMP is a movement which aims to uplift the Malay-Muslim community and "holds closely to our core principles of independence, non-partisanship and critical collaboration with all parties that share our mission in the community", he said.

He added that Mr Nizam decided to resign "to avoid further misperception" that he reflected AMP's official stand on political and civil society issues.

Asked by reporters last night on the sidelines of a dialogue organised by government feedback unit Reach, Dr Yaacob said: "AMP is an important partner. In our discussions with AMP, we have never touched on their internal organisation, how they are being managed."

He also noted that the association has "written in its Constitution that whoever is involved in AMP must be non-partisan and we assume therefore not involved in politics".

He said the Government was more concerned with the work they do as they receive public funds.

Dr Yaacob added: "Money which is given by the Government to Malay-Muslim organisations must be for the purpose of voluntary work that will help the community move forward. It is not for the purpose of creating a platform for people to be involved in partisan politics."

In February, Mr Nizam spoke at the Population White Paper protest at Speakers' Corner.

Last month, he was on the panel at a forum on race issues organised by the Workers' Party Youth Wing.

He stated that he spoke in his personal capacity at both events.

Yesterday, he told The Straits Times that AMP had informed him over the weekend that two ministers had "expressed concern" about some critical views he had put forth online and his participation in the two events.

He declined to name the ministers.

He said he was presented with two options. One, if he did not "tone down" his activities, the Government would withdraw funding from AMP. Two, dissociate himself from AMP if he wanted to continue with civil society activities.

A check of financial statements on AMP's website shows the association received a government matching grant of $1 million annually over the last five years.

Mr Nizam was chairman of AMP from 2009 to 2011 and founding president of its youth wing.

Mr Nizam also clarified that he is not a member of any political party and "the circumstances behind me leaving AMP have got nothing to do with any intention of joining any political party".

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