Published: Monday December 26, 2011 MYT 2:47:00 PM

Umno: NGOs supporting BN must be more vocal

KUALA LUMPUR: Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) backing Barisan Nasional's efforts to strive for the people must be more vocal in voicing their support, said Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan.

Ahmad, who is a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said many of the nation's NGOs supported Barisan but preferred to be the silent majority with a "wait-and-see" attitude.

"The Opposition NGO supporters, however, prefer to be a vocal minority," he said while cautioning government NGO supporters from becoming too vocal, which may have negative consequences.

"Barisan needs the support of various parties and we see the NGOs as among the most important in our struggle for the people," he said after opening the 1Malaysia Muafakat Conference organised by Permas, which was attended by 15 NGOs here, Monday.

Asked if he saw the Angkatan Amanah Merdeka NGO, led by Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, as a Barisan supporter, Ahmad Maslan said Tengku Razaleigh was part of the BN leadership.

"Tengku Razaleigh is also Gua Musang Umno chief and a Barisan MP. It goes without saying that he is part of the Umno and Barisan leadership," he added.

Ahmad Maslan also reminded all Umno members to base their struggles for the people on the party's strength and not on the Opposition's weakness.

"Don't help the people only when you see the Opposition being weak with internal problems and don't be smug when you see them weak.

"We must fight for the people all the time, not just seasonally. We must uphold this to ensure that the people are taken care of and they support us," he said. - Bernama

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