Govt appreciates NGOs' role in helping people - PM Najib

The Prime Minister said registered voluntary organisations can apply for financial grants through the Social Welfare Department, such as administrative grants, rations and special allowances for people with disabilities.

"The government also provides special aid to NGOs for women, family and social development programmes.

"The registered voluntary organisations can also apply for tax exemption," he said in a post on his blog, www.najibrazak.com, today.

Najib said the government encouraged the setting up of more NGOs so that none of the less fortunate people escaped government attention.

He also said that the government hoped that it could cooperate directly with NGOs so that more welfare programmes could be implemented.

"The population of Malaysia has exceeded 32 million. It is impossible for the government and government-linked agencies to handle the welfare of every citizen.

"It is for this reason that NGOs exist, the voluntary organisations which do not make any gain taking care of the welfare of the less fortunate groups such as the homeless, elderly, orphans and so on," he said.

Najib said the government greatly appreciated the efforts of the NGOs in helping the people without expecting anything in return.