DAP legislator Lim Kit Siang has challenged Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to let him head an investigation into courses offered by the National Civics Bureau (BTN by its Malay acronym).

This, said Lim, would establish the truth as to whether the courses have a racist agenda as widely alleged.

DAP has been particularly critical of these courses, which civil servants and tertiary students in public institutions are compelled to attend. Muhyiddin therefore invited Lim to observe the programme for himself.

NONE"Let me ask Muhyiddin: Why not invite me to head investigation as to whether BTN courses have poisoned the minds of a generation of leaders, civil servants and university students with divisive, racist and seditious indoctrination programmes?" countered Lim (right).

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby today, Lim said no one would object to the courses if they truly promote national unity and inter-racial understanding.

"But it is unpatriotic, anti-national and criminal to say the least to have a government programme that incites racial ill-will and hatred.

"This is not nation-building, but destruction of the very fabric of a united, progressive and successful Malaysian nation."

If government leaders have nothing to hide, they should welcome an opportunity to get to the bottom of the matter," he said.

Firestorm of complaints

Government leaders have defended the courses, saying that these inculcate nationalism and unity.

Yesterday, however, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz contradicted this view.

He said the cabinet has agreed revamp the courses so that the curriculum will be "inclusive" rather than divisive.

Lim said a BTN course at Universiti Technology Mara (UiTM) in Shah Alam last year had drawn "a firestorm of complaints and protest about the rank racism".

dap islamic state roundtable 100807 farish noor"One of the speakers, on the pretext of giving a talk on education, launched into a racist harangue criticising the just-held Bar Council forum on the social contract, accusing one of the forum speakers - Farish A Noor (left) - of being a traitor to the Malay race, as well as making disparaging remarks about Karpal Singh," he claimed.

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 these courses for students, young leaders and civil servants.

The controversy was triggered when the Selangor government banned attendance of representatives from the state at such courses, claiming that these promote "racial politics and BN/Umno ideology".