APART from a government's efficiency and effectiveness to                                                                                             
provide law, order and stability for all and a dynamic private                                                                                        
sector, a developing nation also needs voluntary and                                                                                                  
non-governmental bodies or organisations.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
They fill the vacuum that the big players have no time for or                                                                                         
are too busy to look into, but which are close to the heart                                                                                           
and conscience of the general public.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
They help to blend the energies of those who want to help and                                                                                         
contribute. A vast majority of them are run by volunteers,                                                                                            
with a good number employing paid staff.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
A number of volunteers have set up orphar ages to look after                                                                                          
the homeless, the abandoned and abused children. While                                                                                                
providing a roof over their heads, these organisations also                                                                                           
feed and school them.                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
How do they manage?                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
A good many receive grants from the government, conduct                                                                                               
charity drives, and receive donations from individuals and                                                                                            
other organisations. Among the large and wellrun organisations                                                                                        
are the Pure Life Society in Jalan Puchong, and the Rumah                                                                                             
Anak-Anak Yatim Tengku Budriah.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
Both these organisations employ a number of people to assist                                                                                          
in the management and running of their set-ups.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
There are others like the Rumah Anak-Anak Yatim, Kapar, Rumah                                                                                         
Faith and others. The contributions of these volun tary                                                                                               
organisations are invaluable. They are especially praiseworthy                                                                                        
in these times of fast-pace living and money-motivated ways of                                                                                        
doing things. Their activities certainly go a long way towards                                                                                        
helping the unfortunate, especially the aged, orphans and the                                                                                         
mentally retarded.                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
Another group of such selfless beings comprise volunteers who                                                                                         
are involved in emergency and medical relief work. They                                                                                               
include organisations such as the Red Crescent Society, the St                                                                                        
John's Ambulance and the Befrienders.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
Volunteers man the organisations, some by sitting on the Board                                                                                        
of Directors and others in the provision of services.                                                                                                 
Organisations such as the Red Crescent Society have a                                                                                                 
considerable workforce, a number of branches and a good many                                                                                          
vehicles, including boats.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
During normal emergencies like accidents and in the face of                                                                                           
natural catastrophes, these organisations become very useful,                                                                                         
helping other established organisations such as the hospitals                                                                                         
and the Welfare Department in bringing relief to victims.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
We have also a number of "Green Organisations" who create                                                                                   
aware ness and point to abuses in the environment. A number of                                                                                        
them like the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) is a body                                                                                               
headquartered in Switzerland with branches in many parts of                                                                                           
the world, with the prime aim of preserving the variety in                                                                                            
species of animals and plants and variety of ecosystems.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
Others on the local scene include the Malaysian Nature Society                                                                                        
which has been propagating the love and care of nature-two of                                                                                         
its members (Datuk Dr Salleh Mat Nor and Gurmit Singh) won the                                                                                        
Langkawi Award 1991 and 1993 respectively.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
Other local 'green' organisations are the Sahabat Alam,                                                                                               
Environmental Protection Society of Malaysia, etc.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
All these organisations have played an important role in                                                                                              
creating awareness about the environment, although at times                                                                                           
some of them do seem to be the mouthpieces of others outside                                                                                          
the country.                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
A number of them like the WWF and the Malaysian Nature Society                                                                                        
have their own offices.                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
Consumerism has been around in our country for quite some                                                                                             
time. People like Encik Annuar Fazal have gained international                                                                                        
recognition.                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
The consumer organisations have crusaded the need for consumer                                                                                        
protection and have through their publication Utusan Konsumer                                                                                         
and others, constantly highlighted discrepancies, shortfalls                                                                                          
or injurious products that are sold in the market. Although                                                                                           
not as vehement as Ralph Nader, the consumer crusader of the                                                                                          
60's, a number of them have been pretty outspoken.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
They play an important role, although sometimes are alarmists                                                                                         
and produce results from questionable researches.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                      
Consumer awareness and consumer rights are an integral part of                                                                                        
a developing economy; due credit must be given to these                                                                                               
associations.                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
As regards non-governmental voluntary organisations, an                                                                                               
interesting one is the Federation of Family Planning                                                                                                  
Associations. It is mainly concerned with family planning-the                                                                                         
number of children and spacing of children. This Federation,                                                                                          
composed of associates from all the states of Malaysia, has                                                                                           
been propagating family planning for more than 30 years.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
Large families, infant and maternal mortality due to frequent                                                                                         
pregnancies, poor nutrition and health conditions, added to                                                                                           
the fact that they are economically poor, have been some of                                                                                           
the main ills of the Third World.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                      
Excessive population growth has hindered the economic growth                                                                                          
in countries like India, Bangladesh, the Philippines and                                                                                              
others.                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
This voluntary organisation has contributed considerably                                                                                              
towards good parenthood and manageable family sizes.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
Co-operative societies are largely managed by volunteers,                                                                                             
especially at the board level. However, they are regularly                                                                                            
"supervised" by the Director-General of Co-opera tives.                                                                                     
Obtaining their funds from members, some of them have grown                                                                                           
from small thrift and loan societies to large businesses like                                                                                         
the KUB, Police Co-operatives and the Armed Forces                                                                                                    
Co-operatives.                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
They are the third largest sector, after the Government and                                                                                           
the private sector, having assets in the region of RM10                                                                                               
billion from 3,342 cooperatives.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
We know that the Scandinavian countries owe much to their                                                                                             
co-operatives for their development.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
Community service organisations have a long history in                                                                                                
Malaysia. Most towns play host to Rotary, Lions, Jaycees and                                                                                          
others. These clubs provide the opportunity for businessmen                                                                                           
and professionals to contribute to the development and welfare                                                                                        
of the community.                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                      
The membership characteristic of these clubs provide a                                                                                                
powerful network and momentum for raising funds and                                                                                                   
undertaking ambitious community projects.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
The above is not an exhaustive list, it is an example to show                                                                                         
the type of non-profit making or voluntary organisations that                                                                                         
contribute towards national growth and nation building.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
It is not always smooth-sailing, at times they work with                                                                                              
insufficient support and appreciation. Many have sacrificed                                                                                           
time and money only to be misunderstood.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
Their success could be attributed to the heart; a genuine                                                                                             
interest and feeling for a worthy cause, although at times we                                                                                         
do see people "politicking" for a noble cause.