YOURSAY ‘Zahid cannot declare it illegal just because it’s not registered.’

Zahid will not allow Negara-Ku to register

Zahid Hamidi-Negara0-ku Overseas Malaysian: ‘Negara-Ku’ is a coalition of NGOs that stands for unity, religious and press freedom, universal principles, inclusiveness, strong leadership, truth, and love.

It’s the collective aspirations of Malaysians who want a better, freer, cleaner, safer, productive, secular and loving Malaysia.

“There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come,” said French writer Victor Hugo.

Negara-Ku is such an idea.

Turvy: This is a big bluff from Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi – it is not the name of Negara-Ku that worries him but the moral heat that the movement will generate.

Reformasi has lost its bite. What is augured in the new movement is a rallying point for all who love this country and will not stand idle seeing it destroyed by half-past six politicians out to do anything to enrich themselves.

I’m in, whatever the name.

Anonymous_3e06: According to Zahid, Negara-Ku can cause confusion like the word ‘Allah’ to the Muslims. Zahid must be thinking all Malaysian think like him.

In the culture of individualism people choose to think differently and see things differently. Grow up Zahid, your political game plan is well known.

Tholu: The “Ku” in Negara-Ku is a contraction of “aku”. If the organisation still wants some form of the “Aku” in its name, what about “Negara Ambo”?

It might also consider using “Negara Kito”. “Negara Kawe” could also be used but it doesn’t sound nice.

Further, it is mostly used on strangers and people we seldom communicate. Or else, the organisation can ask Zahid for some alternative words in Bahasa Indonesia since he has his immediate roots there.

Malaccan: Zahid is irrational and his acts often border on criminal, if not crossed the line a number of times.

With such a useless home minister and an IGP (inspector-general of police) who flouts the law, Malaysia is poorly served and its security more at risk as a result.

The constitution allows all citizens the right to freely gather and associate. Who is Zahid to take away this right? Has he suspended the constitution and conducted a coup d’etat with himself as dictator?

How can Zahid subvert the powers and responsibilities of the ROS (Registrar of Societies) by making the decision instead? He has preempted the ROS and rendered him as a rubber stamp and exercised undue and unauthorised command influence over the ROS.

Like Bersih, if Negara-Ku does not ask for or get registration, it is not an illegal organisation. It is merely an unregistered one.

An unregistered ladies club is not illegal nor a terrorist organisation. The court and the rakyat agrees. Zahid need to learn the word and stop demonising others who disagree with him as illegal.

Kingfisher: For once, Zahid who has been subject to much ridicule seems logical. Why “Negara-Ku” that seems blatantly obvious from the aggrieved, and impinges on the national anthem.

“Bersih” seemed fine with an independence to clean up corruption and squalor. Why not think of an alternate?

PKR came with a good name, especially “Keadilan Rakyat”, but unfortunately is increasingly going down the drain in public goodwill and regard due to indispensable heavyweights like Khalid Ibrahim, etc.

Why not think of something that gives an enabling meaning  like Association for the Advancement of All Malaysians, etc.

Tan Kim Keong: Zahid is implying that a certain segment of the Malaysian population will be confused because this segment cannot tell the difference between one which is our national anthem and the other which is the name of the yet-to-be registered society.

Secondly, how is the name undesirable or deceiving when its stands for anti-racism? In short, Zahid is saying that a certain segment of the Malaysian population is incapable of thinking.

Fernz: We must look at what was the intention of Parliament in passing the Societies Act. An organisation only needs to be registered for the purpose of holding elections. Otherwise, an organisation need not be registered.

No one needs to register an organisation for the purpose of carrying out activities including political. Since it’s unlikely that Negara-Ku plans to hold elections, it can carry as an ad hoc organisation under that name.

The home minister cannot declare Negara-Ku an illegal organisation just because it’s not registered. Negara-Ku can also admit registered organisations as members. The Bersih case refers.

Tok Karut: I thought Negara-Ku is not an NGO but a movement which does not require registration, so I don’t know why the fuss unless the minister thinks he needs some air time.


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