Why form Negara-Ku?
Ahmad Hafidz Baharom, The Malaysian Insider
The above question is one that I think many would ask if they wouldn’t be attacked by its supporters for asking. As for myself, I’ll just ask anyway – why form another non-government organisation (NGO) targeting unity in the form of Negara-Ku?
The reason I’m asking this is that we already have so many NGOs as it is, with the same faces attached all the time. These NGOs have already formed a coalition to address national unity.
As admitted by Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia vice-president Zaid Kamaruddin, the NGOs within Negara-Ku had worked together under the already-established Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM) in 2011 to champion a better Malaysia.
GBM is made up of 24 civil society establishments, whereas the recently-formed Negara-Ku has 68.
Here’s a thought: Why can’t everyone just group together under GBM and then discuss how to push forward the agenda of national unity through the federal constitution, the Malaysia Agreement and the Rukunegara through this organisation instead of establishing a new one?
And having read the Negara-Ku charter which is not undersigned by the 68 organisations just yet, it seems that this NGO seems to start off its so-called “unity” run on the basis that the government and all related parties have failed. That’s a nice start to unity talks, isn’t it?
Forgive me for saying this, but if the movement aspires to “resist all forms of intolerance, bigotry, hatred, extremism and violence”, then why is Negara-Ku through its charter being intolerant, bigoted and clearly extremist against the state, political parties and their affiliates?
Certainly to “heal the nation” and “restore hope” would also include the supporters of said state, political parties and their affiliates, would it not?
Or are Negara-Ku’s 68 member organisations not even considering to reach out to these parties, instead choosing to remain within themselves?
If so, this does nothing to heal our divided nation.
It does nothing other than to widen the rift between the people and those who support the state, political parties and its affiliates.
While its goals are pure, there is also another question which I ask of it: Where is the new blood in these 68 member organisations?
This was a question I posed even to Bersih beforehand. Where are the new leaders, the next generation, the fresh faces?
