BTN lecturer told us Indians were Pariah caste, Chinese low-class

BTN lecturer told us Indians were Pariah caste, Chinese low-class

BTN - Besar Tetek Nenek

If ALL Indians who migrated here were from the PARIAH caste , then the lecturer is also saying Mahathir is a half-Pariah since he is a Mamak and Pak Lah is a half low-class since his mother is Chinese .

A Disappointed Civil Servant

LETTER It amuses me to note the rapacious back and forth regarding the Kursus Kenegaraan organised by the Biro Tatanegara. However, I notice that remarks defending the program have so far been based on perspectives of certain Government officials, who may or may not have been subjected to the charms of the program. As a serving Government professional of non-Bumiputera descent, I feel it is pertinent that I share my experience of this program, so that some objectivity may be achieved in understanding the isssue at hand.

It is compulsory for all Government servants to attend this course once during service. I attended the program in 2006, in a group of 80-odd Malays and 9 non-Malays. We were a mix of doctors, dentists, pharmacists and teachers. On the first day, we had to listen to a series of 4 lectures, all delivered by lecturers from the local MARA University campus. I vividly remember the 1st lecture on Kerakyatan, for it was delivered with such fervour by an obviously inspired lecturer. At times he seemed to go off his script and made several references to ‘other’ races being ‘pendatangs’ and forgetting their ‘place’ in society, and not being grateful for the citizenship ‘awarded’ to them, and other remarks of a similar vein.

However what shocked me was when this lecturer, in a frenzied fit of rage, asked the audience whether they knew that ALL Indians who migrated here were from the PARIAH caste, and similarly all Chinese who came here were also from the lower classes in their country of origin. I was livid with rage that this supposed university lecturer had the unabashed temerity to tar all Indians and Chinese with the same brush, and make such an unsubstantiated sweeping statement that may have been lapped up by the ill-informed as the gospel truth. From that moment I was mentally tuned off from listening to further garbage being spewed by this obvious racist. After ranting and raving for a good forty minutes more, he mercifully concluded and invited questions from the floor.

I immediately got up and proceeded to enquire on what basis the lecturer made his sweeping statements, and if he was aware that aside from indentured labourers, the British had brought educated Indians and Ceylonese Tamils to serve in the civil service in pre-independence Malaya. I then informed him that I was a 3rd generation civil servant, and the last time I checked, I wasn’t a PARIAH. By this time the lecturer was squirming in discomfort, especially as the crowd assembled there started to cheer me on. I sternly told the lecturer to check his facts before he confuses others with blatant untruths.

The Chinese dentist that stood up after me was in no conciliatory mood however. She blasted the lecturer outright by saying ‘Saya berasa amat tersinggung dengan apa yang dikatakan oleh penceramah tadi (I am offended by the remarks made by the lecturer); ianya sangat tidak adil dan amat mengelirukan para hadirin di sini (it is an unfair statement and can confuse the others assembled here).’ Probably stung by the truth of those comments, the lecturer tried to weasel out of the messy situation by defending his statement which was made in a particular context. But none of us were fooled, and we realised that this course was an attempt to stereotype and racially profile the citizenry for the benefit of a certain group to assert its ‘ketuanan’ on others.

Suffice to say, i was least interested in the ensuing activities, especially the drill parade where we were forced to pray with arms outstretched to maintain ‘conformity’, despite my usual method being the traditional hands clasped in supplication.

Ultimately, the course made me despise the way the non-bumis were treated, and served to reinforce the belief shared by many that it is a brainwashing and indoctrination exercise to target the ill-informed and the gullible. I am sure my Malay friends would (mostly) have cringed in shame at the way their fellow citizens were humiliated and made a mockery of.

Bottom line is, stay away from this course. It does no good and can serve to divide the population.

BTN – a Frankestein ( created by Dr Mamakutty ) gone berserk

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 10:35

NEW The Biro Tata Negara (BTN) or National Civics Bureau has been hogging the limelight lately for all the wrong reasons. Ostensbily created for the purpose of fostering patriotism and “commitment to excellence”, the BTN has become an incubator of bigotry and intolerance. It turned out to be nothing more than “communal brainwashing” and is anything but civic. It started off as an obscure agency in 1974 with an innocuous-sounding name: Youth Research Unit. It mutated into BTN at the time when Mahathir Mohamad had just assumed power. And unbeknown to the public, the devils in the BTN had been subtlely and at times blatantly poisoning the minds of scholars, public servants, university students and youths sent there for training in the past quarter of a century.

For decades, BTN had been training and producing “graduates” to become future leaders who would come out well-rounded intellectually, emotionally, spiritually. The courses they studied had noble objectives: enhancing patriotism, strengthening self-reliance, building character and discipline, promoting excellent work ethics, and fostering a spirit of camaraderie “regardless of race”. The goals were fine on paper but it appears they were not put into practice or had become totally irrevelant. Once shut up within the four walls of BTN, it is a known fact that the “students” were subjected to racial and political indoctrination.

The products of the BTN system were there for all to see: A school principal in Johor reportedly said “Chinese students should go back to China” and likened Indian prayer strings to dog leashes. A special officer openly said that “Indians came to Malaysia as beggars and Chinese, especially women, came to sell their bodies”. A high-ranking BTN officer shocked the nation when he allegedly called Chinese “slitty eyed” and Indians “alcoholic”. These are the tip of the iceberg: more muck will float when incendiary remarks made in public or in private functions see the light of day.

The courses were also political in nature, emphasising Malay supremacy and loyalty to national leaders. According to one BTN alumnus, a song was taught with the lyrics: “the land that you walk upon is owned by others”, insinuating that the non-Malays have grabbed all the land and that it was time the Malays asserted their rights and reclaimed lost ground. Another alumnus was put off when the trainers tarred the Chinese as the “Jews of Asia” who were engaged in a conspiracy to topple the government. Yet another participant was shocked when one lecturer blatantly declared that the Malays “were the most supreme race in the world... while the others were insignificant”. The opposition was mercilessly flayed to bring home the message that it did not pay to vote for the other side.

The BTN continues to exist in its monstrous form. Apologists like Ahmad Maslan, deputy minister in the prime minister's department, and Mahathir were quick to defend the ogre. Maslan dismissed the whole hullabaloo as a mere slip-up by one lecturer, while Mahathir had nothing but high praise for the BTN for “inculcating the values of discipline and hard work in public servants and scholars”. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin came out from the dark to say BTN programmes “inculcate nationalism and unity... in line with the 1Malaysia concept”. These are weak responses. Even the recent directive to all heads of government departments to check their officers from making sensitive statements is an exercise in futility. It does not address the glaring abuses in the system.

Undoubtedly, BTN has failed to discharge its duty responsibly. It has created and released hundreds, perhaps thousands, of bigots into the civil service and other sectors who will continue to spit racial slurs and undermine the very concept of patriotism. Love of country cannot exist in a cauldron of hate and spite. Moral and ethics cannot take root when public servants themselves do not show exemplary conduct. Team spirit cannot be built on the mucky soil of racism. Unity in diversity is a lost cause when the doctrine of Malay supremacy is worshipped as a national ideology. BTN is an antithesis of everything that is good, principled, decent.

BTN was recast largely in the image of Mahathir. When the doctor took it under his wings in the Prime Minister's Department, the creature underwent a series of operation. Drastic changes were introduced to ensure that all who attended the courses would come out with the look of the devil in their eyes. BTN had turned into a Frankenstein monster that has gone berserk and done harm to millions of people who called Malaysia their one and only home. There is only way to strap down the monster and put it to sleep: abolish the detested BTN. This calls for firm, decisive action. BTN aka Frankestein must be consigned with all haste to the dung heap of history.

Cabinet orders probe into racist remarks

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 17:23

PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet has directed Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Sidek Hassan to investigate alleged racist remarks made by a National Civics Bureau (BTN) deputy director, two days ago.

Human Resources Minister S Subramaniam said the Cabinet expressed its disappointment over remarks made by BTN Federal Territory deputy director Hamim Husin during a closed-door function with Puteri Umno delegates.

"We want a report on a news portal which claimed that the deputy director made a racist statement.

"The Cabinet has asked the Chief Secretary to the Government to inquire into the matter before any action is taken," he told reporters here today.

Hamim was reported by a news portal as saying that it was the Malay rights to rule the country and urged them to unite in the face of threats.

Hanim had also purportedly described the Chinese as “si sepet mata” (slitty eyes) and Indians as “kaki botol” (alcoholics).

Yesterday, MCA and Gerakan leaders called for swift action against Hanim, including the possibility of the police investigating the matter.

They also lamented that such statements would lend a blow to the 1Malaysia concept.

- Bernama

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TDM on English

Dr M: Forsaking English is the nation’s folly

Dr M: I am not an Englishman but I speak English.

By Neville Spykerman

SHAH ALAM, Dec 14 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said the government was exposing Malaysia to peril by reversing the policy of teaching maths and science in English.

“English is the language of the Knowledge Age. Countries which do not master English will not only be left behind but risk being colonised either directly or indirectly.”

Without knowledge, countries will be oppressed and even invaded, he said.

The former premier, who has not hidden his disapproval over the shift of policy which he introduced, added that it was a folly to equate patriotism to speaking the national language.

“English is not only for English people but a universal language. I am not an Englishman but I speak English.”

Nizar on Ketuanan Melayu

Nizar says Ketuanan Melayu is unIslamic

By Clara Chooi

IPOH, Dec 14 — The recent spate of racial politicking allegedly instigated by non-Malay politicians in the Opposition, seems to have triggered an internal war among the Malay community, creating a widening rift between two factions — the pro-Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Malays and the pro-Barisan Nasional (BN) Malays.

The chasm was further proven today when, in a press conference at the Perak DAP headquarters this afternoon, ousted Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (picture) came to the defence of his non-Malay comrades in the PR and condemned the concept of “Malay Supremacy”, adding that it was an “un-Islamic” ideology.

He also urged his fellow Malays to open their eyes and see the BN's or Umno's ploy in using the concept to create a wave of protest against the PR alliance.

“As far as we in PAS are concerned, the entire concept is utter rubbish. There is no such thing as Malay supremacy but what it really is is Umno supremacy,” he said.

He said that PAS, even as an Islamist party, had never been an advocate of such a concept and this stand had been undertaken by the party's spiritual adviser Datuk Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat many years ago.

Nizar added that “Malay Supremacy” was anti-Islam and that any Muslim who committed treachery against Islam would be punished in one way or another.

Najib on Mandarin

Najib: Learn Mandarin, China important

China’s President Hu Jintao (right) and Najib talk outside the prime minister’s office in Putrajaya. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 — Malaysians, especially the Malays, need to take up Mandarin as it has become an important language since China is now a world economic superpower, said Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Najib said learning another language would also enable a person to know better other individuals from different backgrounds, thus enabling them to respect each other more.

“Only when we respect and honour one another, we will become truly Malaysian,” he said at the Chong Hwa Independent High School’s 90th anniversary grand dinner here.

He said by learning Mandarin, the other races — especially the Malays — would be able to understand the Chinese better.

“It may be too late for me to learn Mandarin, but I hope to see more Malays learn the language in the future.

“My youngest son, Norashman Razak, who is currently studying at Georgetown University in the United States, is also taking Mandarin classes,” he said, adding that he was told his son would only be able to speak Mandarin fluently in four years’ time.

Anwar on BTN

Anwar defends his views in leaked BTN video

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stood by his views contained in a leaked video of the National Civics Bureau (BTN) which was made available in Umno-owned blogs, saying its courses have gotten worse now.

A video dated in the early 1990s, shows Anwar (picture) defending Malays' special privileges and saying these rights should not be questioned by non-Malays.

“In the historical context during our agreement in 1957, we gave citizenship to the immigrants (pendatang). Since we have given them (immigrants) citizenship, the question of the Malay’s special privileges should not arise,” he said in a video-taped BTN session.

The opposition leader and former deputy prime minister says he has nothing to hide and blames BTN for leaking the videos.

“I don't have any problems with that because I know (of it).

“I would anticipate that BTN in its crooked ways will not dare release all the videos of all the speeches. So what they would do is selective and will quote out of context and release," he told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.

Fcuking Racist !

BR and BS — Tay Tian Yan

DEC 10 — “Bloody Racist!” That was how Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz called Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

And I would like to crown it with a 5-star rating, an absolute top quote of the year!

Recalling what Dr Mahathir said and did during his political career spanning half a century, these two words seem so all-inclusive and appropriate.

And Nazri has enlightened and invigorated everyone of us with the latest nickname he has conferred the former PM.

While being an underclass colloquialism, the English word “bloody” is nevertheless an excellent true-to-life expression applicable by people from the underclass to the intelligentsia and nobles.

The word itself doesn’t carry its own meaning; neither does it have a specific word when translated into another language. It is most definitely not “something blood-stained.”

It is, of course, a reinforcing adjective which can be loosely interpreted as “disgusting,” “damned it,” or “fxxx,” among others.

Of course, the highlight lies with the word that immediately trails it, which, if matched properly, should serve to depict the situation in a much more vivid manner.

For instance, the “bloody racist” Nazri has called Dr Mahathir could be understood as — in a lighter way —”the disgusting racist,” or — in a heavier manner — “the fxxxxxg racist.”

Is Dr Mahathir a racist? If even his Umno comrade has said so, that shouldn’t be so much a question anymore! And Mahathir has indeed admitted that he is a racist!

It doesn’t really matter that much if he was just trying to play it cheap, so long as he didn’t drag the country’s honour with him.

Sure enough, we have racists all around us, and this is nothing new.

Not if the racist is not having all the power with him!

During his 22-year tenure as the helmsman of the nation, Dr Mahathir indeed messed up inter-racial relationship, so much so that the word “polarisation” has become a common word in many people’s mouths.

If we were to hold someone responsible, who else if not Dr Mahathir?

Let’s put aside what is now a bygone. Anyone with the slightest rationality and common sense would rise up and hit hard at the national brainwash centre — Biro Tatanegara (BTN) — for chronically instilling racist ideologies and inciting ethnic emotions among its multiracial followers.

Only people like Dr Mahathir and his fellow hawks in Umno, along with Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian, would throw their full support behind BTN and wax lyrical on its “great contributions.”

Where lies their motive? Where lies their conscience?

Don’t forget: BTN was brought up in the hands of Dr Mahathir.

This “Rosemary’s Baby” was indeed Dr Mahathir’s blue-eyed baby!

Nazri should be lauded for saying the right thing and finding the right definition for “BR.”

The weird thing is, our Chinese and Indian ministers have had their lips largely zipped over the BTN issue!

This is typical “BS” — Bloody Stupid! — if you allow me to add. — mysinchew

Sleepy Head
You sure you know whats going on in BTN ??

Pak Lah and his ridiculous defence of the BTN — The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11— Tun Abdullah Badawi was disappointing in office and just as disappointing out of office. His five years was punctuated by a fear of upsetting Umno even when he knew the party was on a path of damnation.

And even now he is scared of upsetting the party, even though he knows the Biro Tata Negara veered off course a long time ago.

His ministers had told him that the BTN was playing a divisive role but he did not do anything.

So his comments today should be taken for what they are: comments of a former senior BTN official.

He remains so obsessed with trying to avoid upsetting anyone that he has chosen to side with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, by defending the man who hounded him out of office.

The evidence of BTN’s overt racism has been overwhelming.

Course participants — many of them Malay — have come out to offer testimonies of the racist indoctrination that is the BTN.

The Chinese and other non-Malay communities continue to be labelled as “pendatang” or immigrants during such courses which are compulsory for new civil servants and public university undergraduates.

Malays participants are constantly reminded that this country is a “Malay” land which they must strive to defend against the threat posed by their fellow countrymen, the non-Malays.

But Abdullah chose to side with the very same hawks in his party who pressured him to leave office.

He also said today that the BTN courses remain relevant because they promoted the concept of 1Malaysia to the public.

This is a preposterous statement if ever there was one.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia concept, while vague, is ostensibly about promoting racial unity and better sense of belonging to the country among all communities.

To suggest that BTN courses will help promote 1Malaysia is something that boggles the mind.

Abdullah was a former director of BTN, and he claims that it was not racist during his time. But he was told while he was PM that it had become a racist institution.

Now, the current PM, Najib, has been told the same thing, and has directed the programme to be overhauled.

If Abdullah cannot help Najib to reform the BTN, he should perhaps consider staying silent.

Ku Li confirms BTN is racist .

Ku li: ‘I was battered by BTN’

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 had been a victim of BTN.

“They said a lot of things,” he replied when asked to elaborate on the nature of the attacks against him.

The Kelantanese prince was also a victim of a hate campaign during Election 1990, when a photograph of him wearing an East Malaysian headgear was widely distributed just days before polls.

The photograph of Razaleigh in the headgear, which bore a motif similar to a crucifix, is credited with turning away significant numbers of Muslim votes from Semangat 46, which he led.

Pak Lah has NO spine , one who has NO pride , NO principles ! !

Imagine to have come out to support those very people who whacked him left and right and demanding he step down as PM . This is the type of PM who gets pushed everywhere by the UMNO warlords or little Napoleans in UMNO .

This is the PM who said " Work with me , not for Me " The warloads and little Napoleans perhaps has been telling him You work for US .

Nazri vs Dr M

• The BTN controversy

2009-12-09 12:08

• 

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz criticised former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for having inconsistent words and deeds before and after his term of office. When he was in the office, he claimed himself as a Malaysian in order to gain the people's support but after his resignation, he has been speaking only for Malays. Once again, Nazri severely criticised Dr M as a “racist”.

Even though Dr M has abdicated, it seems like among UMNO ministers, only Nazri is courageous enough to offend Dr M like that.

Nazri and Dr M are like a pair of foes, although they are not having equal political status and prestige.

"He is courageous enough to say something that others do not dare to say."

I can still remember that after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced his new Cabinet's lineup, Dr M had bluntly criticised that two ministers were not appropriate for the positions, and Nazri was one of them. The other one was Deputy Agricuture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum.

I can't remember how Johari responded at that time. But I still clearly remember that Nazri had made a firece counterattack. He said it was a childish behaviour and severely criticised Dr M as a racist. He even gave Dr M an “advice” that “it is better for him to stay at home as the people no longer like him.”

This time, it is not surprising when they spit at each other again over the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) controversy.

BTN is a product from Dr M's era. Its racist training modules have long been heard. And now, even Malays can no longer tolerate it. They come forward to expose its ugliness. However, during the authoritarian era of Dr M, many people chose silent protest and dared not to say a word.

Politics will always be Dr M's favourite. He believes that his mission is not yet fulfilled and thus, even though he had stepped down, he still has endless to say. He writes books and blogs and gives public speeches to promote his “Mahathirism” that stresses on Malay supremacy. To him, BTN can really help him to complete the unfinished mission!

I don't agree with some points of Nazri, but he is “stunning” as he dares to admit that there is something wrong with the BTN training modules and does not agree that the course should be meant only to highlight Malay patriotism. He also thinks that it is ridiculous to mention about Malay supremacy in the course. He is courageous enough to say something that others do not dare to say.

Nazri, who even praised the Pakatan Rakyat government of Penang for committing in fighting corruption and promoting clean government, indeed shows better the independent thinking of the new generation of Malays compared to Dr M, who simply wants to defend the BTN. Nazri has also shown a more open mind.

In this case, I would like to give Nazri an applause. And I hope that his voice would not echo alone in UMNO and the Malay society.

As for Dr M, history will judge him fairly. (By LIM MUN FAH/Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/Sin Chew Daily)

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)

The force behind BTN

• The BTN controversy

2009-12-10 15:22

• 

The Biro Tata Negara (BTN) controversy has been debated for long. Clearly, the training modules are spreading extreme racism but many people have come forward to defend it. It shows that it is hard to change the thought of many people and it is indeed very difficult to carry out a reform in the country.

In fact, the question is very simple. Since it has been proven that the training modules are not meeting the “1Malaysia” concept, it must be reformed. They must remove extreme and outdated content and introduce new elements so that it is consistent with globalisation. If they find BTN is unable to raise patriotic spirit or bring any benefit after the reform, it has no value of existence any more and must be shut down immediately to avoid wasting the people's money.

The 28-year-old BTN represents a negative force that is against democracy and freedom. It has also brought a tremendous damage to the society. UMNO has been using the same political education, particularly the emphasis on Malay supremacy, over the past 30 years. We can see that the UMNO political education, which has been started since the rule of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has cultivated a lot of party members, whose ways of thinking are actually not consistence with a multi-racial society. As a result, UMNO is difficult to change today.

"If they can't even touch the BTN, how is Najib going to promote his reform agenda?"

Dr M's “contribution” to the country included depleting resources and cultivating many followers of the same kind.

It is worrying that millions of party members have been instilling the wrong values into the people, allowing racism to be deep rooted in the Malay community.

Over a hundred UMNO Youth members launched a protest in front of the Penang state assembly building on 30 Nov and some of them even burned a portrait of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. But so far, no one apologies for the incident. The twelve defendants of the “cow-head” case did not carry out any reflection upon the protest either. Instead, they kicked and stepped on a banner depicting caricatures of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang and Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming with cows' bodies outside the Shah Alam courts.

More shockingly, someone even said that the government should revoke DAP Vice-Chairman M. Kulasegaran's citizenship. It is now the 21st century and citizenship should never be used as a tool for intimidation and it is not a gift for UMNO either. Such remarks have proved that racism has deeply poisoned some people.

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who argued with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz over the BTN training modules, admitted that he is a racist and UMNO is a racial political party. Even if they are racists, they still have to accept that Malaysia belongs to the whole people. Unless UMNO leaders and members are able to abandon the Malay supremacy concept, otherwise, how are they going to realise Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's concept of “1Malaysia”?

The country has been independent for 52 years but its competitiveness is gradually declining. From having rich natural resources, we are now in a plight of having budget deficit for the continuous 13 years and bearing national debt of up to RM260 billion. It shows that racism no longer works. The government and UMNO must change their courses.

Restructuring or shutting down the BTN can be a starting point for reform to prevent further spread of extreme racism, so that the next generation is able to retain a pure heart. If they can't even touch the BTN, how is Najib going to promote his reform agenda? (By LIM SUE GOAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)

Muhyiddin defends Mahathir and BTN

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said that it is rather extreme to label former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as a racist.

He said Mahathir had contributed significantly to the country and was still capable of giving ideas.

"So, to label him as a racist is rather extreme. He (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Nazri Aziz) is my friend too but I don't know how it (labelling Mahathir) could have come about. Under the country's political situation today, many people can misinterpret," he told Malaysian journalists in Tokyo yesterday.

Muhyiddin, who is currently on a special trade and investment mission to Japan, was commenting on the statement by Mohamed Nazri yesterday labelling Mahathir as a racist for defending the National Civics Bureau's curriculum module.

Mahathir had earlier felt that the government should not be trapped by the opposition's political game to the extent of revamping the curriculum module which had been adopted by the bureau in the country effectively all this while.

Better to 'talk less'

Muhyiddin said everyone, especially the leaders, should not be trapped by the opposition's strategy to the extent of quarrelling among themselves.

He said it would be better if everyone would adopt the 'talk less' approach.

"Ideally, we should not be seen as debating openly. I feel there is no need to debate or enter into polemics on government agencies such as the BTN (National Civics Bureau)," he said.

The deputy prime minister said that since capturing several states in the last general election, the opposition coalition had a strategy to discredit all government institutions including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the Royal Malaysia Police, the Royal institution, or even the National Civics Bureau so that the people would have a negative perception of the government and the leaders.

"This is their strategy. All this while we had never debated on such matters. The BTN is for the good of the country and not meant to bring any adverse effects on the nation," he added.

- Bernama

BTN taught me the Chinese are the Jews of Asia’
Where's that Mentally Retarded YOUTH CHIEF ? Are You aware of this ? Or Are you simply ignorant while EGM 2 and fresh election seems to be your new portfolio , Dep. Minister of EGM and Fresh Elections ? ? Huh ?

Muhyiddin has defended the BTN courses. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 — I am one of the privileged few to have attended a local public university and learned the meaning of hate, thanks to the ever popular Biro Tata Negara.

All undergraduates were forced to attend this programme or else they would not be eligible for graduation.

The BTN under the Prime Minister’s Department brought in “intellectual” speakers who were supposed to enlighten the students about the meaning of being a Malaysian but instead it felt more like a communist propaganda camp brainwashing those attending about the importance of “Ketuanan Melayu”.

The camp would usually take place during the weekends. Students would have to register early in the morning and the programme would last the whole day.

The organisers were always on their guard, asking participants to show their student identification cards each time they entered the hall, fearing the presence of outsiders.

In the hall, students were asked to turn off their mobile phones.

During the lectures, questions were planted among the audience and the students were advised not to ask any other questions.

One speaker began with the history of Malaysia and how much the country had gone through, always emphasising the May 13 riots.

He stressed the point of how much the Malays had sacrificed and how the community should be united especially from outside threat — the Chinese community.

He said that the Chinese community were “the Jews of Asia” and were just itching to take over when Malays were disunited and broken.

The speaker also revealed a greater Chinese conspiracy where the Chinese Malaysians were working together with Singapore to topple the Malay government.

“Do you want to become like the Malays in Singapore?” he asked.

He also went so far as to criticise Malay girls for dating boys from other races.

He added that they should not be cheap and embarrass their families.

Once, a student told the speaker that as Muslims, we should also respect other races who are also Muslims.

“All Muslims are Malays so it does not matter if they are Chinese or Indians. If they are Muslims then they are Malays,” the speaker replied.

This is why I was relieved when I learned that the Selangor government had moved to ban its civil servants, employees of state subsidiaries and students at state-owned education institutions from attending any BTN courses with immediate effect.

However I believe racism in varsities does not end at BTN because classrooms have also become victims of ignorant scholars.

My friend was verbally abused during his sociology class when he did not agree with the points made by his lecturer.

“You must be DKK,” the lecturer told him.

“What is DKK?” he asked.

“You must be darah keturunan keling (descendents of Indians),” the lecturer said, pointing to his dark skin.

My Saudi friend was also shocked by the comments made by his lecturer in his Islamic civilisation class.

“We should save our Orang Asli from the Chinese people. They are like the Palestinians and the Chinese are Israel. We must fight the Jews,” the lecturer told his students.

The lecturer even failed one of his students in his oral exam when he quoted a Western scholar in his presentation.

“You should be ashamed of yourselves. You are a Muslim and should only use Islamic scholars,” he scolded the student.

I was personally saddened when my Islamic law lecturer compared Christianity to Head & Shoulder’s 3 in 1 shampoo in referring to the religion’s Holy Trinity.

I feel that racism has been institutionalised in our country and that BTN is only the tip of the iceberg.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin defended BTN yesterday and claimed that it was not racist but is line with the 1 Malaysia concept.

I have to humbly disagree and would like to suggest maybe the ministers should bring their overseas children home and let them have a taste of what BTN is.