Led by Armed Forces Veterans Association president Mohd Ali Baharom, better known as Ali Tinju, the groups called on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to remove Zahid from his cabinet.
"We are saddened and angry that the Home Minister is insensitive and unwise, he could be described as 'stupid'.
"As a minister he should be mindful of the prime minister's and his wife's feelings as well as the rakyat's, he should not be giving out awards on his whim," Mohd Ali told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.
Mohd Ali took issue with Malaysiakini's report on the Prime Minister's wife Rosmah Mansor lamenting that she did not have time for her hobbies as she had to serve the rakyat, a day after the award was granted.
"Many other mass media deserve such an honour, why was Malaysiakini glorified? To me Malaysiakini is a stooge of the Communist.
"I ask that the prime minister sack Zahid because he has caused all kinds of problems and has failed to complete his work," he said.
Upset over inactions
He queried whether Zahid, who is former defence minister, was out to embarrass the prime minister's wife.
"Just because you don't like the prime minister's wife, just because your wife is not on good terms with the prime minister's wife, you would do this to Rosmah out of vengeance?," he said.
However, Mohd Ali said he respected the Najib's prerogative in deciding Zahid's position.
Mohd Ali cited other issues he had with Zahid, including for not taking action against PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu despite declaring him a deviant Muslims at the Umno general assembly last year.
He added that Zahid had also failed to act against The Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew for insisting on the use of the word "Allah" and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok for making a video mocking Rosmah.
"He also said slapping people is not wrong, that is a dangerous remark," he said in reference to the home minister's refusal to act on threats against Kok.
Ali Tinju was accompanied by 14 other NGOs under the banner of Gabungan Sahabat 1Malaysia.
'Award NGOs instead'
Also present at the press conference was Pertubuhan Martabat Jalinan Muhibbah Malayia (MJMM) president Abdul Rani Kulup Abdullah who said the NGOs were the one that deserved an award.
"It is the NGOs that should receive an award from Zahid. It is not that we want an award but we are working without allowance, it's all from our own pocket.
"We could do more if we get some allowance," he said.
Malaysiakini was on Feb 26 conferred the Social Media Excellence prize for the online media category at Social Media Award 2014.
Ahmad Zahid, who was the guest of honour, had handed the award by the Malaysia Social Media Chambers to Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan.
The award was decided through a weightage of 80 percent by public voting and the remaining through a panel of judges.
By Nigel Aw of Malaysiakini
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