PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan should explain its dependence on funding from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), says Human rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram).

       The group's adviser Kua Kia Soong said this after Daniel Twining, the president of the International Republican Institute (IRI) revealed three years ago that they - through NED - had been funding the Opposition in Malaysia since 2002.

       "It is up to Pakatan Harapan to explain their dependence on NED funding if they can. They have their own vested interests," said Kua in a statement on Facebook on Monday (Aug 30).

       The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is a non-governmental organisation in the United States that was founded in 1983 for promoting democracy in other countries by developing political groups, trade unions, deregulated markets and business associations.

       He also urged all NGOs in the country to stop accepting funds from NED to remain credible.

       He said Suaram used to receive funding from the NED until the organisation was exposed as a CIA “soft power” front for the United States government several years ago.

       "Knowing the blood-drenched 'regime changing' record of the CIA in so many third world countries since 1947, we could not continue receiving funds from such a dubious source for our own credibility.

       "Thus, we curtailed this source of funding some time ago," he said.

       Twining allegedly told a forum in 2018 that the IRI, with funds from the NED, had worked to strengthen Malaysian opposition parties since 2002 and its efforts paid off when Pakatan Harapan won the 14th General Election.

       Twining had also revealed that he had visited Malaysia and met with many of the Pakatan leaders.

       "We can do better than that. As organisations that advocate for the rights of civil society and the marginalised, we cannot be funded by a front for the CIA with its dreadful imperialist record.

       "Such a situation leads to a crisis of legitimacy and deteriorating effectiveness for Malaysian NGOs in general.

       "NGOs will not be seen to be independent if they accept NED funding," he said.

       When it comes to taking a stand on anti-imperialism, anti-racism, and national sovereignty, Kua said that one "cannot be neutral on a moving train."

       https://www.facebook.com/kiasoong.kua/posts/3761531817280035