PKR to dissect BTN with aid of insiders
By Syed Jaymal Zahiid, The Malaysian Insider
The Barisan Nasional-led federal government may face a tough time defending its Biro Tata Negara (BTN) programmes when PKR initiates a nation-wide tour together with ex-BTN officials to prove its allegations that the programmes are used to “indoctrinate” civil servants and students with racist propaganda.
The leading component party in the Pakatan Rakyat bloc will start the project in January, with a pilot programme to be held in KL first before it goes on the road.
The initiative was revealed by Batu Cave PKR assemblyman Amirudin Shari, the prime mover behind the Selangor government’s effort to prohibit its civil servants and students in the state from attending any BTN programmes.
Amirudin told The Malaysian Insider that testimonials from ex-BTN officials, students and civil servants who have participated in the programmes will be shared in the forums and used as evidence that BTN is indeed used to “brainwash” its participants.
“All this while, the BN-led federal government has denied it and said that there is no evidence to show that they are doing it, so now we will go on to show that we do have evidence,” said Amirudin.
The ex-officials will also share with forum participants details of the modules used by BTN.
BTN courses have been running for years, and are intended to “instil nationalistic values and patriotism”, but are now seen as more of a propaganda unit for the ruling coalition.
The courses are for university students on public scholarships and civil servants.
BTN is controlled by the Prime Minister’s Department.
On Wednesday, Selangor executive councillor for education Dr Halimah Ali issued a blanket ban on BTN courses for state civil servants, employees at state subsidiaries and students at state-owned educational institutions.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin defended BTN courses as a form of nationalism in line with the 1 Malaysia concept and denied the programmes were aimed at “converting” participants to the political ideology of Umno and BN.
