Nazri says Dr M's remarks ‘most stupid’ - The Malaysian Insider

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 8 — Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, lashed out at Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today and described the former premier’s remarks as the “most stupid statement” that he has ever heard.

Dr Mahathir had said earlier today that Nazri should resign from Umno because if he were against racism, he should not be in a racist party.

“He (Nazri) said I am racist? Don’t ever say he is not, because he knows everything very well. He belongs to a party and that is a racist party, which is Umno. Umno is a party ‘perkauman’ and it’s meant only for Malays and nobody [else] can join in. So he is in a racist party but said he is against racism. So he should resign from the party,” Dr Mahathir had told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today.

In response, Nazri pointed out that Dr Mahathir’s comments only confirmed what he said about him was right.

“You know that the bigger concept is the Barisan Nasional. This party (Umno) was formed and it was not decided by me. I joined because I want to serve the government. I want to serve the people and that was the platform prepared for me so actually when you want to talk about forming the party, he was involved in forming the party.

“That is not my problem, that is his problem and I only joined the system as it is. I only want to serve the people and the only way I can serve is through this party.

“I am right in the sense that if Umno is a racist party, he was a president of a racist party so he is [therefore] a racist,” he said.

Nazri added that Dr Mahathir’s arguments did not make him less racist.

Nazri had called Mahathir a “bloody racist” yesterday for defending the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) courses, and reasserted the Cabinet’s earlier decision to overhaul the programme.

He explained that patriotism was not meant only for the Malays but for all Malaysians.

Nazri also slammed Umno’s Utusan Malaysia newspaper, saying its “denial syndrome is making me laugh.” The minister in the prime minister’s department repeated his stand that “everybody knows what the BTN is,” so there was nothing to hide.

Nazri’s attack on Dr Mahathir wa,s however, not published in Umno-owned newspapers today.

“It does not matter to me, I don’t know what are the reasons but to me if Tun Mahathir can make criticisms against the government then he is not immune to criticisms from members of government,” he said.

Nazri calls Dr M a racist for defending BTN - The Malaysian Insider

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 — Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has called Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad a “bloody racist” for defending the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) courses, and reasserted the Cabinet’s earlier decision to overhaul the programme.

Nazri pointed out to reporters in Parliament today that patriotism was not meant only for the Malays but for all Malaysians.

“You must be a Malaysian whether you’re a minister or not. You must walk your talk. Don’t just because when you were PM, you wanted everyone to support you, you’re Malaysian and the moment you’re no longer PM, that’s it, only talk about the Malays so I cannot accept his comment. When you read his blog it is bloody racist.

“I strongly feel the BTN courses must be in line with the 1 Malaysia slogan by the PM,” he said.

Dr Mahathir had said yesterday that there was no need to revamp BTN’s training modules in the current form and that it was suitable for instilling the patriotic spirit among Malaysians.

Nazri also slammed Umno’s Utusan Malaysia newspaper today, saying its “denial syndrome is making me laugh.” The minister in the prime minister’s department repeated his stand that “everybody knows what the BTN is,” so there was nothing to hide.

“I just want them to know, they should not go on a denial syndrome because their syllabus is known to everybody. Don’t think that people outside do not know about the syllabus based on patriotism for Malays. I just want to remind them that among those in the opposition, Hasan Ali was a former deputy director of BTN and Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul was a BTN former director and Anwar Ibrahim’s father in law was involved with the BTN.

“They all know what the syllabus is all about so who are we to say that it did not happen? You want to lie? You make people laugh. I mean there are people who attended the courses who came out very angry. There were many instances of the use of words like Ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy). It is ridiculous so I want them to tell me where did I go wrong in supporting the revamping of the BTN syllabus. Tell me where I went wrong?” he asked.

Nazri stressed that BTN was funded by public money and that the funds should be spent properly for the betterment of all communities.

“The BTN’s allocation is mentioned in the PM’s department’s budget. So it’s public money. So if it’s public money then we need to ensure that it is spent properly, not to have courses only to concentrate on one community in the country.

“You talk about patriotism, love for the country. Patriotism is for all Malaysians regardless of race. Therefore, the money spent on BTN to have courses must reflect the 1Malaysia slogan by the PM. It should not only be to raise patriotism among the Malays. Malaysia is for all races so I disagree with any syllabus which only concentrates on patriotism just on one community, I disagree. If they have a problem with that, I want to know what is their problem,” he said.

Nazri questioned if Utusan Malaysia, which has been at the forefront of defending BTN courses, believes that Malaysia belongs only to the Malay community.

“Do they want to say that Malaysia belongs only to the Malays and the government is only a Malay government? Should only the Malays be given the spirit of patriotism? Other races are not patriotic about their country? So I want them to point out to me where is it that I’ve gone wrong If I disagree with the past syllabus,” he added.

Nazri also denied the claim made by Utusan that it was only him who wanted BTN to be revamped and not the Cabinet.

“The moment PM took over, when he introduced the 1 Malaysia slogan. It was soon after that because courses run by BTN using public funds must be used properly and it amounts to millions so if you want to talk about patriotism, patriotism for all, not just the Malays, for all Malaysians. It’s not because of the Selangor state government that we changed the syllabus so it’s long before that,” he said.

Nazri also questioned Utusan for deceiving Malaysians on BTN.

“You tell me, can I lie? I can’t. They must use their head lah. If they want to deny and all that. If the other side they do not know, it’s different but all these people were involved with BTN before. They were facilitators and directors so they know what’s going on.

“Come on lah, please, this is not 1961 or the 1970s. Information is freely available. I want them to get out of the denial syndrome, admit it and that’s in line with the PM’s slogan so why shouldn’t we change?” he asked.

The PR-led Selangor government recently imposed a ban on its civil servants and students within its state-run educational institutions from attending BTN courses, while Penang — another PR- governed state — is said to be considering similar action.

But the hawks in Umno, through Malay-based dailies like Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia, have moved to defend BTN and attacked its critics as “traitors” who are trying to politicise the issue.

Utusan yesterday urged the government not to “bow down” to the opposition on BTN and said that it was Nazri who wanted the programme to be revamped even though the move was decided by the Cabinet.

BTN sudah lama terpesong- Bekas Pengarah

oleh harakahdaily

KOTA BHARU, 3 Dis: Biro Tata Negara (BTN) yang diwujudkan kini bukan lagi untuk menjaga semangat bangsa dan cintakan negara, sebaliknya untuk menjaga kekuatan parti Umno.

Bekas Pengarah BTN Terengganu, Rosli Abdullah memberitahu modul kursus yang diajar dalam BTN khususnya selepas tahun 1998, lebih menekankan pengukuhan peserta kursus kepada pada parti pemerintah itu.

“Pada masa yang sama, peserta kursus juga turut diajar memusuhi pemimpin parti-parti pembangkang, khususnya ulama dalam PAS, lebih bersifat perkauman dan berbagai lagi,”ujarnya lagi.

Katanya, tindakan pemimpin kerajaan Selangor yang menghalang kakitangannya menghadiri kursus dalam BTN sebenarnya satu langkah yang baik memandangkan setiap peserta akan diasak sedemikian rupa untuk memenuhi impinan kerajaan Umno dan BN.

Beliau yang pernah diamanahkan sebagai Timbalan Pengarah Bahagian Pengurusan BTN Pusat, itu seterusnya memberitahu, propaganda termasuk tuntutan Hindaf juga turut dicanang kepada peserta kursus berkenaan.

“Modul kursus BTN khususnya diawal era 90-an, berbeza khususnya sewaktu dibawah seliawan bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang turut ditekankan soal pendidikan Islam.

“Sekarang ni khususnya selepas tahun 1998, kursus berkenaan bukan sahaja tidak ditekankan soal pendidikan Islam, sebaliknya lebih menjurus pada propaganda Umno, perkauman dan memburukkan ulama’ khususnya dalam PAS,”ujarnya lagi.

Sambungnya lagi, masyarakat begitu mengagumi BTN sehingga antara tahun 1991 hingga 1998 merupakan zaman kegemilangan BTN kerana modul kursus yang diperkenalkan termasuk pendidikan Islam.

Namun tambahnya, kini ianya menjadi hambar kerana lebih bersifat politik demi untuk kepentingan parti pemerintah.

Beliau yang kini Timbalan Pengarah Tabung Amanah Tok Kenali juga memberitahu, keberkesanan kursus BTN sekitar tahun berkenaan juga menyebabkan rakyat turun ke bawah akibat kesan dari reformasi yang disuntik dari semangat kursus BTN, khususnya selepas penyingkiran Anwar.

“Kini mereka ingin melakukan perkara yang sama namun lebih sistemetik demi untuk kemenangan mereka dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang,”ujarnya lagi.

Jelasnya, kursus BTN dalam tempoh lima hari amat berkesan kepada peserta kursus dengan asakan serta cara mereka menyampaikan ceramah melalui modul yang telah disediakan kepada peserta.

Jelasnya, BTN kini juga telah terpesong dari matlamat asal penubuhan iaitu untuk menguatkan bangsa Melayu itu sendiri, yang mana kini tidak menumpukan soal bangsa apa lagi agama, sebaliknya menanam semangat perjuangan Umno pada jiwa peserta kursus.

Pada masa yang sama beliau turut menyokong langkah kerajaan Selangor menghalang kakitangannya mengikuti kursus BTN bagi mengelak sesuatu yang tidak diingini berlaku.

Bagaimanapun, menurutnya kerajaan negeri itu perlu mengadakan satu medan kursus khas untuk kakitangannya memandangkan setiap kakitangan awam perlu mengikuti kursus untuk kenaikan pangkat mereka.

Menurutnya lagi, kursus khas di bawah Menteri Besar perlu ditubuhkan sebagai alternatif baru untuk kakitangannya mengikuti kursus.

Pada masa yang sama, sambungnya masyarakat perlu didedahkan tentang intipati yang terdapat dalam kursus BTN agar mereka selamanya tidak diperbodohkan oleh kerajaan khususnya yang mengaitkan hanya Umno mampu memerintah negara.

“Fahaman atau ajaran sesat ini sewajarnya dibuang dari minda rakyat kerana Pakatan Rakyat juga mampu memerintah,”ujarnya.

Biro Tata Negara peruntuh negara?

Saya sedikit terperanjat apabila membawa laporan Harakahdailybaru ini.Ketua Pemuda PAS, Salahuddin Ayub mendedahkan bahawa beliau mendengar sendiri penceramah dalam latihan Biro Tatanegara (BTN) memfitnahkan Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Tuan Guru Haji Abdul Hadi Awang sebagai anasir subversif dan pengkhianat negara.

“Saya mendengar sendiri penceramahnya menuduh Tuan Guru, (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim) dan (Lim) Kit Siang sebagai sebagai anasir subversif dan pengkhianat negara,” kata beliau. Beliau juga membangkitkan tentang tindakan BTN mengapi-apikan isu perkauman di dalam modul yang mereka kendalikan.

Jika benar dakwaan yang disebutkan oleh saudara Salahuddin itu, maka ia adalah satu gambaran yang amat jelek dan menyedihkan. BTN telah kelumpuhan fungsi yang sepatutnya dimainkan. BTN sepatutnya menjadi agensi kerajaan yang berperanan untuk membina kesedaran yang tinggi tentang perpaduan di kalangan rakyat. Bukannya membuat fitnah membabi buta dan bukan juga menjadi alat pihak-pihak tertentu yang mengejar keuntungan politik.

Jika disoroti sejarah BTN yang ditubuhkan pada tahun 1975, BTN sebenarnya mempunyai peranan yang cukup penting dalam membina negara dari sudut moral dan jatidiri rakyatnya.

Pada tahun 1970-an, semasa program belia, fungsi Biro Tatanegara (BTN) ketika itu ialah mengawasi kegiatan pertubuhan mahasiswa dan belia bagi memastikan mereka bertindak selaras dengan kehendak dan aspirasi negara.

Pada tahun 1981, selaras dengan keputusan Kerajaan, fungsi BTN telah diperluaskan untuk memupuk semangat patriotisme dan cintakan negara serta meningkatkan semangat keIslaman di kalangan semua lapisan masyarakat termasuk belia, pelajar, kakitangan kerajaan dan sektor swasta.

Antara lagu yang sering dinyanyikan dalam kursus BTN ialah lagu Warisan. Peserta dibimbing untuk memahami perkara yang tersurat dan tersirat dalam lagu tersebut. Meskipun kelihatan semangat kemelayuan yang ketara dalam lagu tersebut, namun objektifnya ialah bagi mengeluarkan orang Melayu daripada kancah kemiskinan dan akhirnya mencapai matlamat utamanya iaitu perpaduan kaum.

Hal ini adalah selari dengan matlamat Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) iaitu membenteras kemiskinan tanpa mengira kaum dan merapatkan jurang ekonomi antara kaum di Malaysia. Kerajaan amat sedar bahawa perbezaan taraf ekonomi dan sosial antara kaum di Malaysia adalah penyebab utama berlakunya peristiwa berdarah 13 Mei 1969.

Seterusnya pada November 1986, aktiviti BTN diperjelas dan diperkembangkan kepada melatih pemimpin dan bakal pemimpin supaya mereka mendukung usaha-usaha pembangunan dalam beberapa bidang seperti agama, sosial, politik, ekonomi dan pendidikan.

Pada tahun 1992, Jawatankuasa Penyelaras Latihan yang dipengerusikan oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri telah memutuskan BTN melaksanakan Program Bina Negara yang melibatkan penganjuran kursus, seminar dan aktiviti yang bercirikan latihan perubahan sikap. Program Bina Negara telah dilancarkan oleh YAB Perdana Menteri serentak dengan Kursus Bina Negara 1 yang diadakan pada 1 hingga 4 Januari 1992.

Penyertaan dalam Kursus BTN adalah wajib untuk semua pelajar yang mendapat biasiswa kerajaan untuk ke luar negeri. Tujuan kursus tersebut adalah untuk menyemai semangat kenegaraan di kalangan pelajar tersebut agar terus bersikap patriotik ketika di luar negeri.

Namun begitu, timbul banyak aduan daripada peserta kursus tersebut (terutamanya yang berketurunan bangsa minoriti) bahawa terdapat jurulatih BTN yang menyebarkan idealogi yang bersifat perkauman, hinggakan ke tahap menimbulkan kebencian terhadap kaum-kaum minoriti di Malaysia.

Saya juga pernah diprovok dengan kandungan modul-modul sebegitu. Intipati ceramah akan dimulai dengan kepentingan untuk memahami sejarah kependudukan bangsa Melayu, kemudian keadaan anak bangsa Melayu yang masih mundur, kemudian diceritakan tentang kesungguhan pemimpin-pemimpin Melayu dalam parti pemerintah yang gigih membangunkan bangsa dan negara..

…dan kemudian dibilas dengan hentaman dan kejian terhadap pemimpin-pemimpin Melayu dan bukan Melayu yang berada di pihak oposisi. Disedapkan cerita dengan tuduhan subversif, hubungan dengan pihak Yahudi dan sebagainya.

Saya menjadi pelik bin hairan.

Menjadi persoalan, apakah sebenarnya agenda BTN diwujudkan?Apakah mahu membangunkan negara atau MERUNTUHKAN negara?

———

*Penulis ialah Presiden Economics Student Leaders Council (ECONS), sebuah badan pemikir dan NGO bebas terutamanya dalam isu-isu sosio-ekonomi negara, mengembangkan pemikiran kritis dalam politik dan ekonomi di Fakulti Ekonomi dan Pentadbiran Universiti Malaya. Blog Pencak Bicara MHM kini menjadi ruang analisis dan perkongsian beliau.

Nazri says no point denying what BTN is

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 – Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz insisted today that the Cabinet wants to overhaul the Biro Tata Negara (BTN), while also admitting the programme had been used to promote certain government leaders.

His remarks come just a few hours after a fellow Umno government leader defended the civics course and insisted it would be “upgraded” instead of “revamped.”

“Whatever word you use, upgrade or revamp ... to me, it is a change of module. Datuk Ahmad Masalan is a member of the Cabinet, he can’t dispute my statement,” he told reporters at Parliament lobby here.

Ahmad, who is Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, came out defending BTN today against allegations by the opposition that its courses were teaching racial hatred.

He claimed the courses would only be “upgraded”, which means that there is nothing wrong with the modules.

The deputy minister, who is in charge of BTN, claimed that the “upgrade” would incorporate new elements in its lectures to reflect the 1 Malaysia idea meant to promote racial unity coined by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

But Nazri said there was no use in Ahmad or other government ministers denying the Cabinet decision.

Ahmad was the second Umno minister to come out in defence of BTN despite the revelation by Nazri that the Cabinet conceded that its courses were racially divisive.

The first was Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin, who took a similarly defensive stand and publicly stated his views on the issue just hours after Nazri made the disclosure on Monday.

No matter how much leaders tried to deny it, Nazri said, there were “other” former government leaders who are now a part of the opposition vanguards, like PKR de facto Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who had been involved with BTN and know of its contents.

The BTN was under Anwar when he was then deputy prime minister.

“They know, so what is there to deny,” he said. “What I am saying now is that we are revamping BTN by changing it, which we have decided in the Cabinet meeting so that it is consonant with a 1 Malaysia as wanted by the prime minister.”

Nazri also admitted that BTN was used as a tool to promote certain leaders within the government, which was one of the points used by opposition leaders to demand BTN’s closure.

The minister said BTN was also used as a programme to “instill confidence among the Malays” in the early days of its establishment but stressed that times have changed and “so must BTN”.

The Malaysian Insider