Is BTN Today Just an UMNO Dog?

By Delimma

UMNO has this knack of using its Midas (oopps, maybe Judas) touch on anything it comes into contact with. And BTN, being an obedient institution of the government, has consciously or unconsciously agreed to become another dog of UMNO. It seems UMNO is unable to utilise its own resources to convince its own people about current happenings, and has to use institutions and sources like BTN to prove that what its leaders are saying are true.  has this knack of using its Midas (oopps, maybe Judas) touch on anything it comes into contact with. And BTN, being an obedient institution of the government, has consciously or unconsciously agreed to become another dog of UMNO. It seems UMNO is unable to utilise its own resources to convince its own people about current happenings, and has to use institutions and sources like BTN to prove that what its leaders are saying are true. 

Much has been said lately of the allegations that Biro TataNegara (BTN) is no more than UMNO’s dog. Many an accuser has alleged that BTN is no more than a legalised arm of brainwashers hell bent on ensuring the future of this nation (our children) who goes through the education process gets the information correctly – that what UMNO and BN do is always right and what the opposition does is always wrong. Judging by what BTN is dishing out at present, one might tend to agree with them.

Let’s do some historical bibliography on BTN first. BTN was formulated as an arm of the government to provide accurate and true information to the public, and to instil a love for the country. That is why the word TataNegara or Nationalism is entrenched in its title. It is a product of a time when we are trying to quell the influence of communism and other impure elements from decaying our youthful societies in the 1960s through 1980s, and BTN was supposed to play a sterling role in guiding the younger generation towards real nationalism. 

During its heyday BTN was the only arm that was trusted enough by leaders, educators and the public in going into institutions of learning (both at tertiary and secondary levels) to educate as well as supply correct and factual information to the students. Many of its contributors have risen up in government, politics and even as motivators – Nordin Kardi and Kamaruddin Jaafar to name two. They were followed closely by students, especially undergraduates – and their influence is astronomical in shaping the views at that time. 

Mind you, during those days the internet didn’t exist yet, and most of the information are only seen on TV or read in the mainstream tabloids. There are however hidden dangers that the government felt existed among students especially from fellow students and some educators, who are unfortunately or not, were influencing certain quarters of students to commit certain acts which the government at the time saw as either too sinful to allow or fast becoming a national threat. One Anwar Ibrahim was one of the vocal students who was a charmer as well as an orator who could take the floor and mesmerise students of all ages. The start of the student movements in universities at the time caused alarm bells to ring in the government, and BTN was the trusted arm utilised as a form of antigen to thwart off these negative influences.  

It worked for a while, especially when BTN was focused on providing information that many believed to be authentic at the time. Questions however, began to be raised of the institution’s sincerity when the Memali incident exploded into Malaysian life. Many educators (especially those who are already followers or supporters of the late Ibrahim Libya) cried foul when BTN went to universities and schools with the claim that the Memali incident occurred due to the village becoming a national threat, and that religion was abused by certain quarters to instigate anti-government sentiment in the village. What the BTN reported and explained were negated by these educators’ insistence that the true story was otherwise, and hence the credibility of this once pristine institution began to be questioned. 

As we progressed into the 90s, and the advent of the internet and other alternative media came to enlighten more, many alleged that BTN was beginning to lose its focus. Instead of instilling nationhood among the students, BTN became a tool for the ruling coalition to brainwash students to robotically agree with what the government was doing. BTN became a household guest in most UMNO and BN functions; and to a society which is becoming educated, this is unacceptable. 

Many believed that BTN’s leadership was ordered to support UMNO/BN, instead of its original intentions. And BTN didn’t help itself either. The split that happened during Anwar’s turbulent fall in 1998 served the institution on a platter for all to mutilate. Kamaruddin Jaafar left to join PAS, Nordin Kardi degenerated into an UMNO mouthpiece and so on. Whilst Kamaruddin found some solace as a Member of Parliament and PAS leader, Kamaruddin now sits proud as Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM).  

One wonders why BTN allowed itself to degenerate to such lowly levels. BTN was supposed to be free from any political inclinations; it was supposed to be working for the country, not the government of the day. Mind you, we can deduce that any government elected will use BTN to further its intentions. 

That’s where UMNO especially, has turned this into an art. Talks by BTN about nationhood suddenly became talks about UMNO’s and the government’s struggles, its accomplishments and history. Again, BTN failed to see that the new age population cares little about history written, but more on what is to be written in future. Even BTN’s speakers, tools and facilities are often used by UMNO as a strategic tool. Last Sunday’s Federal Territories’ UMNO’s forage into what went wrong during the last general elections there was held at BTN’s stronghold in Jalan Bellamy.  

Of all places to have a convention, UMNO FT chose to further prove that BTN is its tool or device. And the organisers of the event happened to be people connected to the Prime Minister, including one of his Political Secretaries! Can we deduce therefore, that the PM has agreed for BTN to be utilised by UMNO for its campaigns? Are we also saying that BTN is now an UMNO servant? 

Now, any known fool would not need a magic orb to deduce that BTN equals UMNO and vice-versa. Thus, we come to what people of today claim, that BTN is just an UMNO mouthpiece. 

That is why today, BTN is no longer revered, respected nor believed, even if it is telling the truth. Perception is key in today’s political minefield, and UMNO has again proved its immaturity by telling the public that BTN belongs among its ranks. Anyone previously connected to BTN would be shamed by the current spate of events, and know by now, the institution has totally lost its credibility. 

It seems that UMNO has this knack of using its Midas (oopps, maybe Judas) touch on anything it comes into contact with. And BTN, being an obedient institution of the government, has consciously or unconsciously agreed to become another dog of UMNO. It seems UMNO is unable to utilise its own resources to convince its own people about current happenings, and has to use institutions and sources like BTN to prove that what its leaders are saying are true.  

BTN should never have agreed to cooperate with any political party, let alone conjoining in events or allowing its sanctity to be invaded. It may have been caused by its leaders’ fear for their jobs or promise of promotion (ask Dr Kardi) by UMNO. Or it could also be that BTN has at long last proven what many fear; it is now an UMNO dog, sent to sniff out and bite off dissent among its ranks. 

Students, especially in higher learning institutions, are no longer smitten by BTN. In fact, many alleged they are forced to attend BTN functions for “the sake of the nation”. If BTN is truly an UMNO dog, then the sake of the nation would have to be amended to mean sake of UMNO. BTN will fall from grace if it associates itself with UMNO in the long run. UMNO is fast becoming a has been, a party gripped with fear of the people and unable to mend its ways to remain relevant. 

Attending talks by BTN now seems similar to attending UMNO rallies. Instead of focusing on what is in the future, BTN is mulling on what has been, and this is something the new generation voters agree is UMNO’s way. Maybe its time for BTN to be rebranded BUM (Biro UMNO Merudum). At least that is what it will become if it continues with its present association and alliance with UMNO. When UMNO falls, BTN will also be irrelevant, but for now, it is just an institution waiting for its death row sentence.