Dr M: Don’t mess with BTN

(Bernama) – There is no need to revamp National Civics Bureau (BTN) training modules as in the current form, they were fine for instilling the patriotic spirit among Malaysians, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former prime minister was also of the opinion that the BTN curriculum had helped foster unity as the courses conducted by the agency were attended by Malaysians of all races.

“I do not see any reason why the modules have to be revamped… I think it is better to retain the modules,” he told reporters after opening the World Aids Day 2009 here today.

Prior to this, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz had said that BTN training modules would be revamped to better reflect the 1 Malaysia concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The matter came into the spotlight when Pakatan-ruled Selangor recently prohibited state civil servants and students of higher educational institutions owned by the state from attending BTN courses, claiming that they were an indoctrination process by the Barisan Nasional government and aimed at brainwashing Malaysians to hate opposition parties.

Commenting further, Dr Mahathir said he too had given talks at courses organised by the BTN and among the subjects touched on were Malaysian history.

“Sometimes, people cannot understand the underlying value of BTN courses. I do not see anything bad about it, it explains the nation’s history,” he said.

Asked on Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call for independent observers from Australia to monitor the next general election in the country, Dr Mahathir said: “If it is the white man, he will trust. If its Malays, it is otherwise.”

On the government’s plan to introduce the goods and services tax (GST), he said a comprehensive study must be made on it so as not to burden the people.

However, he said it was needed in the long term as the country had to find alternative sources of revenue and not be overly dependent of the petroleum sector.