International Media Question Pakatan's Foreign Backers

It's not just the Malaysian press that is raising questions over the foreign funding of pro-Pakatan Rakyat groups; the international media is also turning the spotlight on the Opposition in the lead up to GE 13. The latest is RT, an international English news channel broadcast from Moscow, which has questioned "the opposition's links to foreign-funders in Washington."

"As the South-East Asian nation of Malaysia prepares for general elections, distrust of the political opposition and accusations of foreign interference have been major talking points in the political frequencies emanating from Kuala Lumpur," it said.

In a detailed op-ed on Wednesday, RT asked: "US attempting regime change in Malaysia: Fact or fiction?"

"In Malaysia, high-profile NGOs and media outlets have admittedly received funding from OSI (Open Society Institute) and satellite organizations of NED (US-based National Endowment for Democracy). Premesh Chandran, the CEO of the nation's most prominent alternative media outlet, Malaysiakini, is a grantee of George Soros's Open Society Foundations and launched the news organization with a $100,000 grant from the Bangkok-based Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), another organization with dubious affiliations to the US State Department.

"Malaysiakini has come under pressure from local journalists for the lack of transparency in its financial management and hesitance in revealing the value of its shares. Additionally, Suaram, an NGO promoting human rights, has borne heavy criticism over its funding and organizational structure.

"Senator Ezam Mohd Nor, himself a recipient of Suaram's Human Rights Award, has accused the organization of employing poor research methods and attempting to disparage the government".

The channel's detailed analysis will make uncomfortable reading for pro-Opposition groups, including Bersih.

"After coming under heavy scrutiny for obfuscating funding sources, Bersih coalition leader Ambiga Sreenevasan admitted that her organization receives funding from the National Democratic Institute and the Open Society Institute.

"While Sreenevasan's organization claimed to be non-partisan and apolitical, members of Malaysia's political opposition openly endorsed the movement, and some were even present at the demonstrations," RT said.

"As elections loom, Bersih coalition leader Ambiga Sreenavasan is already dubbing them "the dirtiest elections ever seen" ? unsurprising rhetoric from a woman being handed her talking points by the US embassy."

Ouch. That must hurt, Ambiga.

RT also examined the possibility of US-based groups pushing for "regime change" in Malaysia.

"Despite Najib having good rapport with formal Western leaders, it is clear with whom the think-tank policy architects, Zionist lobbies, and foundation fellows have placed their loyalties.

"What is ticklishly ironic about reading op-eds penned by the likes of Wolfowitz and Al Gore, and how they laud Malaysia as a progressive and moderate model Islamic state, is that they concurrently demonize its leadership and dismiss them (as) authoritarian thugs," RT pointed out.

Despite the scaremongering and rhetoric emerging from Pakatan, RT makes it clear that the Opposition does not offer a credible alternative at all.

"Pakatan Rakyat, the main opposition coalition pitted against the ruling party, has yet to offer a fully coherent organizational program, and if the coalition ever came to power, the disunity of its component parties and their inability to agree on fundamental policies would be enough to conjure angrier, disenchanted youth back on to the streets, in larger numbers perhaps.

"To put it bluntly, the opposition lacks confidence from the business community and foreign investors; even the likes of JP Morgan have issued statements of concern over an opposition win," the op-ed said.

In fact, the most pressing threat to our multicultural society is the Islamist agenda promoted by PAS, which is trying to ride rough-shod over its 'allies' DAP and PKR.

"It should be noted that if Islamists ever wielded greater influence in Malaysia under an opposition coalition, one could imagine a sizable exodus of non-Muslim minorities and a subsequent flight of foreign capital, putting the nation's economy in a fragile and fractured state.

"And yet, the United States has poured millions into 'democracy promotion' efforts to strengthen the influence of NGOs that distort realities and cast doubt over the government's ability to be a coherent actor," RT said.

This shows that Pakatan and its friendly NGOs and media can no longer hide from the political agenda of their foreign backers.

"Malaysia does not have the kind of instability that warrants overt external intervention; backing regime-change efforts may only go so far as supporting dissidents and groups affiliated with Anwar Ibrahim," the international news channel said.

This is explosive stuff.

RT's detailed report is timely as the country gears up for the general election. Voters will now be better informed of Pakatan's efforts to realise the political agenda of their foreign backers, and the disastrous effect this could have on our country. The battle lines in GE 13 are now clearly drawn.

Source: http://www.thechoice.my/top-stories/63521-international-media-question-pakatans-foreign-backers

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