The truth about BTN
BTN is such a good way to promote unity and to remind us of the sacrifices our forefathers made in order for us to enjoy peace and harmony in Malaysia. However, these fascists who are roaming around freely trying to “convert” the participants into being anti-non-Malays have tainted the BTN image. They shouldn’t be allowed to even step foot on Malaysian soil at all!
Mohd Azrul Abu Hassan, The Malaysian Insider
Since Biro Tata Negara has been a hot issue of late, thanks to a Selangor ADUN (state assemblyman) friend who brought up that matter, I would like to offer my personal experience and be as impartial as possible. To date, I’ve gone for two BTN courses as part of the pre-departure course under PNB and Mara. To be honest, I had mixed feelings about them.
I will talk about the food first. Did I just say food? That was not a blatant typo but the food at BTN is just AMAZING! I do not know if it has got to do with the hectic jungle trekking or the marching practises but the food is simply fantastic. They may be simple dishes like ikan kembung goreng or sayur campur but somehow even the steamed rice has some magic in it.
The “Pakcik Komandos”, I must say, are the unsung heroes in BTN programmes. They may look like they can eat you alive, but they are the nicest people around. They are very helpful, polite and really funny too. Their spontaneous jokes might have some repeated ones (just like other stand-up comedies anyway) but they really made me laugh my flatulence off.
The programme itself, when done together for the whole group, is actually really good. It promotes unity, indoctrinating participants about the history of Malaysia, nationalism and patriotism (I do not know if the two are any different). During my second BTN in Negri Sembilan, Namawee was the star of the show.
Namawee, you can rap all you want mate, but rapping out our national anthem is somewhat disgraceful. Use “Rasa Sayang” or “Anak Ayam” if you may. They worked for Too Phat.
The difference between the two BTN courses I attended is actually the age group. The first course was attended by pre-U students while the second one mostly comprised post-graduate students. The level of maturity of the participants in the two courses was obvious but still I could find a “gila kuasa” Penghulu making a fool of himself. (I will not elaborate more).
The second course gave us some real life stories in which I found really helpful. They included Namawee’s “Negarakuku”, the Kampung Baru incident, corruption statistics (with the then-ACA being the most corrupt) and others. Then we were separated into smaller groups of 10 to 15. Now comes the bad part.
It was really weird when the groups were distributed, the non-Malays (including Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputeras) were grouped together in one or two groups. I was quite angry not to be part of the non-Malay group so that I could mingle with them more. (And, of course, the girl I fancied went to that group as well). Later, I realised why the distribution is like so.
From the two courses I attended, both facilitators that I got were downright RACISTS! In the first course in Balik Pulau, there were two Chinese girls in my group but that didn’t stop the fascist facilitator from bashing the Chinese and Indians as “bangsa pendatang” and making racist comments. Since I had enough of him, I planned to question his motives but I didn’t want to embarrass him in front of the group and so I asked him one plain question right after the scheduled brainwashing class.
He was commenting on the way how “DAP-Cina” will administer the federal government. DAP was labelled as a communist party that will only anger the Malays because of its principles. And so, I asked him: “Kita sekarang ni di Balik Pulau. Kenapa saya lihat kawasan di Balik Pulau ni seakan tidak maju? Dan rata-rata penduduknya orang Melayu. Kenapa Umno biarkan Gerakan ‘tindas’ orang Melayu dan orang kampung di Balik Pulau dari segi pembangunan?”
Do you know what he answered?
“Kita sedang pantau mereka. Umno sedang pantau mereka…”
What is that supposed to mean? Pantau? Is that the best you can do? Just now you were talking your racist head out like the world is yours and now you are telling me the best you can do to the Chinese Penang government is to monitor their progress? Just because they are part of BN?
Why can’t you say the same about DAP?
I think he got a taste of his own medicine. He wanted to be ultra-Umno, ultra-Malay but deep in his heart, he knows that, being a big-headed veteran, we are all Malaysians after all and he shouldn’t play the racist card as he will end up answering tough questions like that with stupid answers like so.
I did nothing but shake my head and a slight smirk on my face. BTN is such a good way to promote unity and to remind us of the sacrifices our forefathers made in order for us to enjoy peace and harmony in Malaysia. However, these fascists who are roaming around freely trying to “convert” the participants into being anti-non-Malays have tainted the BTN image. They shouldn’t be allowed to even step foot on Malaysian soil at all!
READ MORE HERE: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/
