Ranting about BTN again — Mohsin Abdullah
I thought the issue had been settled and writing about it would be outdated.
"Basi" means stale in Bahasa Malaysia. But obviously it's not. Not yet rather. Thanks to former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. I am talking about the BTN courses, of course. Let's go over it.
First, the Pakatan Rakyat government of Selangor said it had barred all students in state-owned higher learning institutions, civil servants and employees in state GLCs from attending programmes carried out by the National Civics Bureau or Biro Tata Negara, famously known as BTN.
The PR government alleged that the BTN courses are "actually indoctrination process by the BN government." Course participants, it further alleged, "were given booklets which contained content structured to inspire hate against opposition to the government."
The most damning accusation must be this: "It creates a racist phenomenon which seeks to divide the multiracial and multireligious community." This was according to Selangor executive councillor in charge of education and higher education Dr Halimah Ali. Her allegation if true would put the BTN courses in opposition to the values and spirit of 1 Malaysia. However, Halimah's allegations are not new. We have heard them before. Including the accusation that BTN courses "tend to pit one race against another." But it has never been substantiated.
Hence accusations remain accusations and mere allegations. Nothing came out of them and the BTN continued with its courses. But when the Selangor PR government "made noise and came up with their ban," many talked about BTN and the courses it ran. Then the Penang government, also PR administered, decided to go the Selangor way.
Along the way someone from PR (sorry can't remember who) said the PR would come up with its "own courses to replace the ones by the BTN." Huh? Haa? Huh?
I mean if the BTN courses are "no good and divisive", boycott by all means. But please do not try to replace it. Do that and the BN will accuse it as "creating a racist phenomenon" and "structuring content to inspire hate towards the BN." The allegations are being hurled at the BTN now. It will never end. If the BTN course is no good, the PR need to just forget about it and move on.
However, to the BN the BTN courses are good. At least that's what it said when the Selangor government announced its ban. Top BN leaders (no need to name names as we know who they are, having read their statements in the papers) opined that BTN courses are OK. To them the modules "inculcate a sense of patriotism." And "to mould a progressive nation."
With the backing and support of the BN big guns one would have thought the BTN is home and dry to carry on conducting its courses. After all there is "nothing wrong" with the courses.
But then Minister in the PM’s Department Datuk Nazri Aziz dropped a "shocker." He said the BTN courses will be revamped. And the BTN will change its curriculum because it's not in line with 1 Malaysia. And that said Nazri was a Cabinet decision. Great. But while I applaud the decision, it still made me go " Huh? Haa? Huh! again. Nazri's announcement was made only days after BN leaders who are also Cabinet members defended the BTN courses as OK. Huh? Haa? Huh!!
Anyway, with the Cabinet having already made its decision, one would think the issue has been settled. Right? Not really. In came Dr Mahathir. He said there's no need to revamp the course. The BTN modules, he said, should be retained. Nothing wrong with it. Here I go again... Huh? Haa? Huh? What about it not being in line with 1 Malaysia as said by Nazri?
Nazri said the revamp of the courses would go on despite criticism from many parties including Dr. Mahathir.
"They can say what they want but the Cabinet has already made its decision," he was said to have said. That should settle it once and for all. Shouldn't it? Please say yes. I don't want to go Huh?Haa?Huh? again and again. — mysinchew.com
Mi
10/12/09
I thought the issue had been settled and writing about it would be outdated.
"Basi" means stale in Bahasa Malaysia. But obviously it's not. Not yet rather. Thanks to former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. I am talking about the BTN courses, of course. Let's go over it.
First, the Pakatan Rakyat government of Selangor said it had barred all students in state-owned higher learning institutions, civil servants and employees in state GLCs from attending programmes carried out by the National Civics Bureau or Biro Tata Negara, famously known as BTN.
The PR government alleged that the BTN courses are "actually indoctrination process by the BN government." Course participants, it further alleged, "were given booklets which contained content structured to inspire hate against opposition to the government."
The most damning accusation must be this: "It creates a racist phenomenon which seeks to divide the multiracial and multireligious community." This was according to Selangor executive councillor in charge of education and higher education Dr Halimah Ali. Her allegation if true would put the BTN courses in opposition to the values and spirit of 1 Malaysia. However, Halimah's allegations are not new. We have heard them before. Including the accusation that BTN courses "tend to pit one race against another." But it has never been substantiated.
Hence accusations remain accusations and mere allegations. Nothing came out of them and the BTN continued with its courses. But when the Selangor PR government "made noise and came up with their ban," many talked about BTN and the courses it ran. Then the Penang government, also PR administered, decided to go the Selangor way.
Along the way someone from PR (sorry can't remember who) said the PR would come up with its "own courses to replace the ones by the BTN." Huh? Haa? Huh?
I mean if the BTN courses are "no good and divisive", boycott by all means. But please do not try to replace it. Do that and the BN will accuse it as "creating a racist phenomenon" and "structuring content to inspire hate towards the BN." The allegations are being hurled at the BTN now. It will never end. If the BTN course is no good, the PR need to just forget about it and move on.
However, to the BN the BTN courses are good. At least that's what it said when the Selangor government announced its ban. Top BN leaders (no need to name names as we know who they are, having read their statements in the papers) opined that BTN courses are OK. To them the modules "inculcate a sense of patriotism." And "to mould a progressive nation."
With the backing and support of the BN big guns one would have thought the BTN is home and dry to carry on conducting its courses. After all there is "nothing wrong" with the courses.
But then Minister in the PM’s Department Datuk Nazri Aziz dropped a "shocker." He said the BTN courses will be revamped. And the BTN will change its curriculum because it's not in line with 1 Malaysia. And that said Nazri was a Cabinet decision. Great. But while I applaud the decision, it still made me go " Huh? Haa? Huh! again. Nazri's announcement was made only days after BN leaders who are also Cabinet members defended the BTN courses as OK. Huh? Haa? Huh!!
Anyway, with the Cabinet having already made its decision, one would think the issue has been settled. Right? Not really. In came Dr Mahathir. He said there's no need to revamp the course. The BTN modules, he said, should be retained. Nothing wrong with it. Here I go again... Huh? Haa? Huh? What about it not being in line with 1 Malaysia as said by Nazri?
Nazri said the revamp of the courses would go on despite criticism from many parties including Dr. Mahathir.
"They can say what they want but the Cabinet has already made its decision," he was said to have said. That should settle it once and for all. Shouldn't it? Please say yes. I don't want to go Huh?Haa?Huh? again and again. — mysinchew.com
Mi
10/12/09
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