The hawks and doves in UMNO

• The BTN controversy

2009-12-08 19:30

• 

The BTN controversy has accidentally brought out the hawks and doves within UMNO.

Each side has its own say on whether to revamp the BTN curriculum, which has since become the ring for their power wrestling.

In the beginning, DPM Muhyiddin Yassin said there was no problem with BTN, which was in full conformity to the national policies.

Very soon, a few UMNO ministers, including agriculture minister Noh Omar and women, family and community development minister Sharizat Jalil, followed suit.

In a lapse of several days, minister in the PM's department Mohamed Nazri let out a different tune. He said the Cabinet was already reviewing the BTN's problems and found its curriculum not in compliance with the "1Malaysia" spirit, and had made the decision to revamp its content.

Nazri was obviously saying something quite different from some of his colleagues. Besides, he divulged very expressly the timing of the Cabinet's reviewing of BTN as well as its decision on the content.

That sounds weird. Since the Cabinet has made the decision, why did the DPM and a few other ministers sing in a completely different tune?

Deputy minister in the PM's department Ahmad Maslan called up a high-profile media conference and offered his explanation. He said BTN had not done anything wrong and there would be no need for revamp of its curriculum. Instead, he said an additional "1Malaysia" module would be introduced.

Many people might not know Ahmad Maslan too well, thinking that he was just another deputy minister without much say.

But, this guy carries a different kind of identity. He is not only the helmsman at BTN but also UMNO's information chief!

Given his background, it is indeed no easy task for him to take over a position that only a veteran leader has the capacity to shoulder.

Talking about the BTN curriculum, this gentleman said the BTN was only trying to instill Malay sovereignty and racist content from the objective factual perspectives not in violation of the "1Malaysia" spirit.

His remarks were representative of the extreme rightists within UMNO, a kind of typical defender for Malay nationalism.

Although he was explicitly pointing his finger at Lim Kit Siang, it doesn't take a lot of wisdom for anyone to figure out that he was actually aiming his arrow at Nazri.

This has grossly infuriated Nazri, who questioned whether the minister or the deputy minister had been represented in the Cabinet meeting, and how a deputy minsiter should question his superior's remarks.

On BTN's curriculum and the question of Malay sovereignty, Nazri said the Malay sovereignty was not about the sovereignty of Malay people, but of the Malay rulers and sultans, and as such, it didn't mean the Malays were more superior compared to other races.

Well known for his fiery temper, Nazri is nevertheless a relatively moderate and open-minded person in the midst of UMNO's ministers.

Moreover, his legal background has allowed him to act in a more rational and logical manner.

Among the factions of UMNO, he is said to be closer to Najib, and has won the trust of the PM.

The conflicts between Nazri and Ahmad Maslan has now come to the feet of Muhyiddin Yassin. All eyes are now on the DPM where he would stand.

Muhyiddin's stand couldn't be clearer. He said, "As the person in charge of BTN, Ahmad Maslan has made the necessary explanation."

Up till this point, the hawks and doves have all come out. It will be another story whether the BTN curriculum will eventually be revamped. (By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)