Lawyer and civil society activist Nizam Ismail has resigned from the Board of Directors of the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) and stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Centre for Research on Malay and Islamic Affairs (RIMA), the research arm of AMP, on Mon (22 Apr).
According to Nizam, who wrote the account on his blog (‘Nizam: Why I decide to resign from AMP & RIMA‘), he received a surprise phone call from Mr Azmoon Ahmad, Chairman AMP on Sat (20 Apr). Mr Azmoon informed Nizam that he received separate phone calls from 2 Ministers to the effect that they were concerned about:
- Nizam’s participation as a speaker at the Hong Lim Park protest;
- Nizam’s participation as a panelist at a Workers’ Party Youth Wing Youthquake Seminar and
- Nizam’s critical leanings on social media.
Mr Azmoon then relayed the Ministers’ message to Nizam, telling Nizam to “take it easy” and refrain from such activities. Otherwise, the Govt will withdraw all funding from AMP, which amounts to about $1 million of matching grant annually from the Govt. This will put AMP in a difficult situation. Mr Azmoon also painted the alternative that if Nizam was to continue with his civil society activities, he suggested that Nizam “disassociates” himself from AMP.
Nizam considered this carefully and decided to resign from AMP and RIMA. He said, “I was appalled by the threats of withdrawal of funding from AMP being made on account of activities I have done in my personal capacity and not in my capacity as an AMP/RIMA director.”
“More fundamentally, the threat of withdrawal of funds (meant to benefit the Community through AMP’s programs) on account of what appears to be political reasons is deplorable.”
“I could not, as a matter of principle, see myself functioning as an activist in AMP or RIMA’s Board in an imposed non-critical state, in return for continued funding of AMP’s programs… In fact, this goes against the spirit of the founding of AMP. AMP was set up as an independent platform in light of the perceived issues with Mendaki then. This certainly went against my own personal belief and conviction that made me serve AMP in various capacities since since 1998, in the belief and conviction that AMP, as a movement of professionals, would serve as the conscience of the Community.”
“I therefore could not associate myself in an organization that, time and time again, allows itself to be threatened with the withdrawal of funding in instances where its activities or proposals were perceived to be threatening.”
However, Straits Times reported today (24 Apr) that both Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim and AMP chairman Azmoon Ahmad “stressed that the Government did not interfere with the management of the association”.
In a statement yesterday (23 Apr), Mr Azmoon dismissed Nizam’s claims as “inaccurate”. He said, “I would like to clarify that any suggestion that external parties whom AMP work with influence the decisions that I (as AMP chairman) or the AMP board make is inaccurate.”
AMP is a movement which aims to uplift the Malay-Muslim community and “holds closely to our core principles of independence, non-partisanship and critical collaboration with all parties that share our mission in the community”, he said. He added that Nizam decided to resign “to avoid further misperception” that he reflected AMP’s official stand on political and civil society issues.
Dr Yaacob also replied to media enquiries yesterday saying, “AMP is an important partner. In our discussions with AMP, we have never touched on their internal organisation, how they are being managed.”
He also noted that the association has “written in its Constitution that whoever is involved in AMP must be non-partisan and we assume therefore not involved in politics”.
He added, “Our concerns are not just about Mr Nizam, our concerns are about how government funds are being used.”
“At the end of the day, we have to be very candid here. Money which is given by the government to Malay-Muslim organisations must be for the purpose of voluntary work that will help the community move forward. It’s not for the purpose of creating a platform for people to be involved in partisan politics.”
“So, as to whether or not that was the concern that AMP has with Mr Nizam, that’s for AMP to decide.”
Nizam spoke against the Population White Paper as one of the speakers during a public protest in Hong Lim Park (‘Nizam Ismail’s speech at Hong Lim, 16 Feb‘), which garnered some 4 to 5,000 participants.
Nizam spoke during the Hong Lim Park protest, “The White Paper has stated that it places Singaporeans at the Core. The question is – has it really? What does it mean for Singaporeans to be placed at the Core? I will argue that the White Paper has not placed Singaporeans at the core.”
He also spoke of Govt’s rushing to endorse the White Paper in Parliament without consulting Singaporeans, “Where was the voice of all of us Singaporeans in the White Paper?”
“Various members of the govt have been dismissive of views on social media or blogs – saying that these are ‘noises’. This is regrettable because the Govt risks shutting itself to many important sources of feedback.”
“So we are now left with a rather peculiar situation where Parliament has technically approved the White Paper, but the people at large has not been consulted. And there has in fact been a lot of disquiet about the White Paper… Fundamentally, Govt must engage Singaporeans, especially on an issue as important as those in the White Paper.”
“You don’t win the hearts of Singaporeans by ruthless efficiency and rushing through a White Paper in Parliament… Put another way, the overwhelming support of White Paper in Parliament cannot be taken to reflect the sentiments of Singaporeans.”
Meanwhile, in reply to the media over his resignation, Nizam said that he spoke in his personal capacity at the Hong Lim Park protest and WP’s Youth Wing Youthquake Seminar. When asked who the 2 ministers were who called AMP Chairman, Nizam declined to name them.
Nizam also clarified that he is not a member of any political party and “the circumstances behind me leaving AMP have got nothing to do with any intention of joining any political party”.
Nizam, in a farewell message, wrote on his blog, “And so it was with a heavy heart that I decided to withdraw from the Boards of AMP and RIMA, having put in 15 years worth of time and effort for AMP.”
“But it is a decision I must make, out of a broader and bigger principle that I must uphold. I hold the conviction that Singaporeans must be allowed, and even encouraged to speak up on the many issues that are of grave concern to them. Singaporeans must reclaim the space in civil society and play a direct role in shaping the future of the Country.”
TR Emeritus
*Article first appeared on www.TREmeritus.com