Why is there no other Cabinet Minister, whether Umno, MCA, Gerakan, MIC or from Sabah and Sarawak, speaking out publicly to endorse Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz’s denunciation of former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir as a racist for defending the racist Biro Tata Negara (BTN) course?
It has been said that “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. Are there any “tough” Ministers in Umno, MCA, Gerakan, MIC, Sabah and Sarawak to endorse a revamp of the divisive, racist and seditious BTN indoctrination course which had done the nation-building process a great national disservice since Mahathir’s premiership to divide the diverse races in the country by promoting racial hatred and ill will among Malaysians?
Mahathir had said that there is no need to revamp the BTN course “as in the current form, they were fine for instilling the patriotic spirit among Malaysians”, claiming that “the BTN curriculum had helped foster unity as the courses conducted by the agency were attended by Malaysians of all races”. Rubbing salt into the wound, Mahathir yesterday went on to charge that criticisms against BTN as an “exaggeration”, insisting that the BTN course had taught participants “new values” needed to succeed.
He said:
“We have this thing (BTN) for 20 years during the time I was Prime Minister. Nobody complains about anything. And the people who attended these courses always found that it was very useful.”
Mahathir’s question why “nobody complains about anything” during his premiership can be easily answered – his high-handed and autocratic rule which brook no dissent especially in the public service with his propensity to abuse his powers against all who crossed his path including the abuses of draconian laws like the Internal Security Act and the Official Secrets Act.
Dare Mahathir fully support a public inquiry into the BTN course since his time concerning serious allegations that it not only failed to instill a patriotic spirit, but was divisive, racist and seditious creating greater racial polarization and national disunity in the country?
I fully agree with Nazri that it is long overdue that patriotism was not meant only for the Malays but for all Malaysians, and Nazri could not be more right when he said:
“You must be a Malaysian whether you’re a minister or not. You must walk your talk. Don’t just because when you were PM, you wanted everyone to support you, you’re Malaysian and the moment you’re no longer PM, that’s it, only talk about the Malays so I cannot accept his comment. When you read his blog it is bloody racist.
“I strongly feel the BTN courses must be in line with the 1 Malaysia slogan by the PM.”
This is why the statement by the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Ahmad Maslan yesterday that the BTN module would be “fine-tuned and not revamped” raises the question whether Nazri or Mahathir will have the final say about the BTN course and why the silence of all Ministers from UMNO, MCA, Gerakan, MIC, Sabah and Sarawak are so deafening!
Update – Veteran Umno leader, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, has added his voice to the swelling demand for the closure for the BTN, which promoted hatred and racism, recounting how he was a victim of the BTN hate indoctrination course when he was Semangat 46 and Gagasan Rakyat leader.
Malaysian Insider 8.12.09 ‘I was battered by BTN’, says Ku Li By Adib Zalkapli KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 8 – One of Umno’s most respected leaders,Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, has come out to back the closure of the Biro Tata Negara (BTN), saying he was a victim of its controversial courses when he led an opposition front. “Yes I have heard, I have been battered about in seminars, discussions in BTN,” the Gua Musang MP said when asked if he has been a victim of BTN. “They said a lot of things,” he replied when asked to elaborate on the nature of the attack against him. The Kelantanese prince was also a victim of hate campaign during Election 1990, when photograph of him wearing an East Malaysian headgear was widely distributed just days before polls. The photograph of Razaleigh in the headgear, which bore motif similar to a crucifix, is credited with turning away significant numbers of Muslim votes from Semangat 46, which he led. The BTN, under the Prime Minister’s Department, runs compulsory courses for civil servants and undergraduates and has been accused of promoting hatred and racism by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders. “I think BTN should close down, it has been used to promote personality cult and also used for badgering people who oppose the leadership,” he told reporters after delivering his speech at the United Nations Human Rights Day here. “It’s a waste of money,” said the Gua Musang Umno chief. The PR-led Selangor government recently imposed a ban on its civil servants and students within its state-run educational institutions from attending BTN courses, while Penang — another PR- governed state — is said to be considering similar action. But the hawks in Umno, through Malay-based dailies like Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia, have moved to defend BTN and attacked its critics as “traitors” who are trying to politicise the issue. On Sunday Utusan urged the government not to “bow down” to the opposition on BTN. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz had said that BTN training modules would be revamped to better reflect the 1 Malaysia concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. However former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been defending the BTN courses saying that the criticism against is has been exaggerated.