Tactics of environmental NGOs in influencing public policy in Malaysia

Environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Malaysia can influence public policymaking through several political tactics. This study surveyed and compared the tactics used by three selected NGOs, namely, the Sahabat A1am Malaysia (SAM), the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and the World Wid...

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Main Authors: Mohd, Rusli, Cheh, Kenny Sonn Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 1999
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3253/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3253/1/Tactics_of_Environmental_NGOs_in_Influencing_Public_Policy_in_Malaysia.pdf
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author Mohd, Rusli
Cheh, Kenny Sonn Lee
author_facet Mohd, Rusli
Cheh, Kenny Sonn Lee
author_sort Mohd, Rusli
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Malaysia can influence public policymaking through several political tactics. This study surveyed and compared the tactics used by three selected NGOs, namely, the Sahabat A1am Malaysia (SAM), the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Malaysia. The Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) was conveniently selected as the control group. Data and information were gathered through face-to-face interview technique with the chief executive officers of the respective organizations or their representative using a structured questionnaire. The findings reveal that the environmental NGOs are different from the AAM in their choice of tactics of influencing public policy. The former prefer to use direct tactics in influencing policy decisions. Tactics such as conducting and presenting research results, presenting personal viewpoints, lobbying and contacting officials, are often used compared to tactics like letter-writing and telegram campaigns, grassroots lobbying, drafting legislation or organizing conferences. Among the NGOs, the MNS has been the most tactical in the sense that it has used more tactics, both direct and indirect, more often than the SAM or the WWF. The MNS is also the most resourceful of the NGOs and this probably explains its capacity to employ more political tactics. Future studies should use a bigger sample as well as investigate the effectiveness of the various tactics used.
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spelling upm-32532015-09-10T06:49:43Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3253/ Tactics of environmental NGOs in influencing public policy in Malaysia Mohd, Rusli Cheh, Kenny Sonn Lee Environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Malaysia can influence public policymaking through several political tactics. This study surveyed and compared the tactics used by three selected NGOs, namely, the Sahabat A1am Malaysia (SAM), the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Malaysia. The Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) was conveniently selected as the control group. Data and information were gathered through face-to-face interview technique with the chief executive officers of the respective organizations or their representative using a structured questionnaire. The findings reveal that the environmental NGOs are different from the AAM in their choice of tactics of influencing public policy. The former prefer to use direct tactics in influencing policy decisions. Tactics such as conducting and presenting research results, presenting personal viewpoints, lobbying and contacting officials, are often used compared to tactics like letter-writing and telegram campaigns, grassroots lobbying, drafting legislation or organizing conferences. Among the NGOs, the MNS has been the most tactical in the sense that it has used more tactics, both direct and indirect, more often than the SAM or the WWF. The MNS is also the most resourceful of the NGOs and this probably explains its capacity to employ more political tactics. Future studies should use a bigger sample as well as investigate the effectiveness of the various tactics used. Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 1999-09 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3253/1/Tactics_of_Environmental_NGOs_in_Influencing_Public_Policy_in_Malaysia.pdf Mohd, Rusli and Cheh, Kenny Sonn Lee (1999) Tactics of environmental NGOs in influencing public policy in Malaysia. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 7 (2). pp. 71-77. ISSN 0128-7702; ESSN: 2231-8534 http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/view_archives.php?journal=JSSH-7-2-9
spellingShingle Mohd, Rusli
Cheh, Kenny Sonn Lee
Tactics of environmental NGOs in influencing public policy in Malaysia
title Tactics of environmental NGOs in influencing public policy in Malaysia
title_full Tactics of environmental NGOs in influencing public policy in Malaysia
title_fullStr Tactics of environmental NGOs in influencing public policy in Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Tactics of environmental NGOs in influencing public policy in Malaysia
title_short Tactics of environmental NGOs in influencing public policy in Malaysia
title_sort tactics of environmental ngos in influencing public policy in malaysia
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3253/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3253/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3253/1/Tactics_of_Environmental_NGOs_in_Influencing_Public_Policy_in_Malaysia.pdf