Media statement by M.Kula Segaran in Ipoh on Tuesday, 28^th September 2010:

The time has come for the Prime Minister to take the bold and necessary decision of closing down BTN

Despite vehement denials by some government leaders, it is a well known and an undeniable fact that Biro Tata Negara (BTN) has long been involved in promoting hatred among races with its race based courses.

Despite the fact that its proclaimed objectives are to foster nationalism and instilling patriotism, it has also been playing the role of political brainwashing and attacks against the Opposition parties.

In the controversy which erupted late last year when Selangor Pakatan Rakyat government imposed a ban on students at its universities and state employees from attending BTN courses, several Pakatan Rakyat legislators had related their personal experience.

Selangor State Assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad had revealed that course participants were told that PKR members were Jewish agents. DAP was labeled a Singapore party while PAS was labeled a deviant movement.

The controversy subsided with the announcement by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dato Nazri Aziz that a Cabinet directive to revamp the BTN training programme in line with the Prime Minister's 1 Malaysia concept had been issued.

However, with the proclamation by the BTN deputy director Hamim Husin to a Puteri Umno function that Malay rights is a mandate to rule the country, the time has come to close down BTN.

It is obvious that the Prime Minister's 1 Malaysia concept has not been accepted by all in Umno. But now BTN is going to be the biggest obstacle to 1 Malaysia nation building as it is now extending its anti 1 Malaysia talk to Umno Puteri members.

The existence of BTN is a main factor why there are civil servants, university students and lecturers who are racist minded.

Its continued existence will mean more obstacles to 1 Malaysia nation building.

Its continued existence is also a waste of public fund.

Revamping the BTN training modules is not the solution.

The time has come for the Prime Minister to take the bold and necessary decision of closing down BTN.

It was reported that Hamim had used apparently derogatory terms to describe the Chinese and Indian communities in Malaysia.

He said, "The 'si mata sepet' that has never gone to a mosque or surau only has one vote. The 'si botol' that only knows how to go up to Batu Caves up and down only has one vote,".

The Prime Minister has declared zero tolerance against racism and hence stern action must therefore be taken against Hamim for making such insensitive and derogatory remarks against the Chinese and Indians.

* M. Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman & MP for Ipoh Barat