Gerakan has urged the Registrar of Societies to be more civil and friendly towards non-government organizations (NGOs) which raise issues in the interest of the public and the nation.

Gerakan’s head of central bureau on environment, safety and quality of life, Dr Cheah Soon Hai, said NGOs and environmental groups were playing their respective roles on matters relevant to their establishment.

Dr Cheah said for instance, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) would raise issues related to protecting the environment.

“In a number of environmental issues, the position of non-governmental organizations will inevitably be different from the official stand, but both sides should each seek for win-win solutions,” said Dr Cheah in a statement.

Dr Cheah, who is also Derga State Assemblyman, said democracy and the rule of law must be able to accept different opinions.

“The results of democratic decision-making are likely to contrast with individual’s own views and we must learn to accept. We should not be biased or prejudiced,” he added.

He said the ROS should not send the wrong signal to the people that the government was trying to put pressure on NGOs to conform with official views on certain issues.

He said there should be “a level of conciliation” with the NGOs when views or opinions were unacceptable.

ROS director Mohd Alias Kalil had said on Monday that SAM could face deregistration if there was proof that it was involved in activities which could threaten the nation’s interest.

He said the ROS office had yet to receive an official complaint against SAM which had been actively involved in activities against commercial logging and plantation development, besides the building of dams in this country. Speaking at a news conference while visiting the ROS office in Miri, he said more information was required before they could take action against the organisation which had been active for over 30 years.

He assured that the ROS office would monitor SAM closely and any other NGO which acted extremely in fighting for their cause.