The cabinet has agreed to revamp the content of the controversial Biro Tata Negara (BTN, or National Civics Bureau) programmes to fall in line with the prime minister's 1Malaysia concept.

gobind suspended from parliament 160309 nazri Speaking to reporters in the Parliament lobby today, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said the decision was made so that the curriculum will be 'inclusive' rather than divisive.

"I agree that it should be revamped so that the curriculum is in line with the 1Malaysia concept, because we have spent so much money," he said.

Nazri said he believes that a directive to revamp the BTN courses has already been given to the chief secretary of the government.

Asked if this vindicates critics, he replied: “I don’t know what allegations were made. But I know that the curriculum now should be inclusive to be in line with what PM wants - 1Malaysia. If you only want the course(s) to be for one racial group, then it’s not 1Malaysia.”

najib announce new cabinet lineup 090409 Yesterday, it was reported that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin and several minister had been thoroughly briefed a few weeks ago on the divisive nature of BTN courses.

BTN, an agency under the Prime Minister's Department, aims to nurture the spirit of patriotism and a commitment to excellence among Malaysians. For decades, it has conducted courses for students, young leaders and civil servants.

However, the curriculum has come under recent scrutiny, with Pakatan Rakyat Youth leaders in Selangor urging the state government to ban attendance on the ground that the content is a tool to spread "BN/Umno political ideology and racial politics".

The Selangor government decided earlier this week to bar students, civil servants and employees in state subsidiaries from attending such courses.

DPM was ‘misunderstood’

Nazri also said deputy premier Muhyiddin Yassin was ‘misunderstood’ when he said recently that BTN courses are not ‘brainwashing’ sessions and the programme should continue.

“I don’t think he mentioned that. You probably misunderstood it. What he meant was BTN as a department is good, but we have to change the curriculum because now we have 1Malaysia concept.

azlan "The curriculum cannot focus on one racial group,” said Nazri, disclosing that he had attended one such course previously.

However, he refused to elaborate when asked his personal opinion of that course.

“To me the curriculum is not in line with what the PM wants, which is 1Malaysia. You have the BTN courses for students mostly from one racial group but now we want (an) inclusive curriculum,” he reiterated.

“It is important for the courses to be inclusive of all races, as the government now stresses on racial integration. So you cannot have just one race attending these courses, although others were invited. Now we have to reflect the 1Malaysia concept.”

Selangor to hold forum

Meanwhile the Selangor government will organise a public forum on the BTN courses to better understand its decision to ban the programme, said Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

NONE He said he decided to initiate the forum after receiving criticisms from several quarters, namely Umno leaders and ministers, against the state's move to prevent its staff from attending BTN-run courses.

"Former participants, lecturers and also organisers of BTN programmes will be invited to give their point of view at the forum.

"We want to know whether the state's decision to ban BTN courses is wise or otherwise, or in line with a nationalistic need to reform or not.

"If the federal government tries to ban the forum, then it will be something wrong," he told reporters today.