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Negara-Ku a coalition, does not need to be registered, says Ambiga

For Ambiga, BTN camps are brainwashing hubs

Negara-ku is a coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGO), which does not require it to be registered under the Societies Act, its patron Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said today.

"We don't believe there is a need to register ourselves because we are a coalition of societies."

She was responding to the Home Ministry's announcement today that Negara-Ku is illegal as the Registrar of Societies (RoS) had not received any application from the group to register it as a body.

It warned the group that it would be breaking the law if it continued to carry out activities without being registered.

It added that if the group intends to register, its name was not appropriate as it belonged to Malaysia and could confuse Malaysians.

"This is because Negara-ku referred to 'Negaraku' which has been recognised as the national anthem under the Section 2 of the National Anthem Act 1968,” it said.

But, Ambiga brushed off the ministry's reasoning, saying that Negara-Ku's leadership had already checked the National Anthem Act and had not seen any problem in using the name.

"We do not believe it is confusing or that it has breached any laws. We are not using the name of the national anthem."

The ministry's ruling comes as Utusan Malaysia slammed Negara-Ku, saying that it was a smokescreen to further Ambiga’s political ambition.

The Umno-owned daily's collective editorial voice Awang Selamat demanded that the RoS reject any application from Negara-Ku unless its name was changed to “AgendaKu”.

"Let it remain an illegal body, unless the name is changed to AgendaKu. That is more befitting Ambiga's record and reputation."

Ambiga said she was disappointed at the ministry's announcement, and questioned why it had to be led by "minority extremist voices".

"It is very disappointing that every time an extremist group raises its voice in public, the home ministry jumps to act on what they say and what they feel. In fact, they should be looking at us objectively.

"How is it a problem when all we are seeking to do is pursue an agenda of unity? They should be looking at the support that the coalition has received from the people.

"Are they being objective or are they allowing these groups to run and direct the home ministry?"

Negara-ku was launched two weeks ago and is headed by activist Zaid Kamaruddin, in an effort to heal Malaysia and restore hope, given the recent challenges that threaten the peace and harmony of its multi-ethnic and multi-faith society.

Some 68 civil society groups and NGOs have endorsed Negara-Ku, which is aimed at mobilising and empowering people to return to the basics of the Federal Constitution, Malaysia Agreement and Rukunegara.

Earlier this year, the home ministry deemed the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs in the UPR Process (Comango) to be an illegal entity because it was not registered with the RoS.

The ministry said there were 54 organisations in Comango, but only 15 of them were registered with the RoS. – July 26, 2014.