By Syed Jaymal Zahiid
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 – The Cabinet decision to revamp the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) courses have failed to placate DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang (pic), who wants nothing less than the “decapitation” of those responsible.
“Heads must roll for the poisoning of a whole generation of Malaysian leaders, civil servants and university students,” Lim told a press conference at Parliament lobby here.
Lim, who is Ipoh Timur MP, said though he welcome the revelation by Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz this morning, current developments surrounding the issue have indicated insincerity on the part of the government.
The Minister in the Prime Minister Department said today a Cabinet meeting a few weeks ago saw government leaders owning up to the allegations made by the opposition that BTN was instilling racial disharmony by spreading racist ideas like the ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy).
He said the racist courses were against the 1Malaysia concept propounded by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and added that the Chief Secretary to the Government has been instructed to oversee BTN’s revamp.
But Lim said it would be difficult to trust the sincerity of the decision when many top Umno ministers and leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein have denied any wrongdoing and continued to defend BTN.
If the Cabinet had made such decision in a meeting several weeks ago, Lim is arguing, why had these leaders stood up to defend BTN and rap its critics as recently as last week?
“The ball is now in Najib’s court on his return ... to let Malaysians know whether he is serious about his 1 Malaysia slogan and concept, and why top Umno leaders could defend the divisive, racist and seditious BTN indoctrination,” said Lim.
Meanwhile, Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong who was also present at the press conference revealed that the Federal Budget for BTN this year was RM 74 million.
Parliament expenses, in comparison, only received RM 70 million allocation for the same year.
Liew said that it was better to spend taxpayers’ money on strengthening parliamentary democracy rather than on BTN which has been found to be “instigating racial hatred” and “partisan activities.”
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Or, even the seditious act ?