Shahrizat defends BTN course
(The Malaysian Insider) – Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the patriotic spirit instilled in the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) course or the National Civics Bureau course was for all and not just for federal government supporters.
Shahrizat said it was not justfied to be apprehensive of the content of the BTN courses as the people loved the 1Malaysia concept
On Wednesday, the Selangor state executive councillor for Education, Higher Education and Human Capital Development Committee, Dr Halimah Ali said that Selangor state staff and students of it’s state-owned institutions were barred from attending BTN course with immediate effect.
Addressing fears
The step was taken as it was perceived that the course was an indoctrination process by the Barisan Nasional (BN) created to allegedly draw up racist phenomena, divide races, caused religious tension and provoke hatred of the opposition.
Shahrizat said based on her experience when attending the BTN course there was no racial content.
“The Selangor government is just making a big issue. I have attended the course and it is all about positive thinking, patriotism and nothing to do with racialism,” she told Bernama at a Hari Raya Aidiladha function organised by the Wanita Umno Kepong Division here today.
