asli forum tengku razaleigh economy 150109 03Umno veteran leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has called for National Civics Bureau (BTN) courses to be scrapped, lending weight to a growing chorus of criticism of the programme.

The courses have drawn flak from various quarters for espousing racism, leading Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz to reveal that the modules would be revamped based on a cabinet directive.

However, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad defended the courses last Sunday, saying the programme has helped promote racial unity.

On the sidelines of a seminar today in conjunction with World Human Rights Day, which falls on Thursday, Razaleigh said the BTN has been used to promote personality cults and to badger people who oppose government leaders.

"I have been battered during seminars and discussions in BTN (courses)," he told reporters when asked if he has been a victim of propaganda.

The Gua Musang parliamentarian, 72, also said that running the BTN programme is a waste of money.

On another matter, he said that he has yet to make up his mind about participating in the oil royalty caucus as proposed by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim

"I am still in the midst of discussing this," he said.

He also linked the current political situation in Kelantan to "some problems within PAS", dismissing the notion that a sinister conspiracy is afoot to remove Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat as menteri besar.

"I do not think that anyone can topple the menteri besar. If there is a move towards this, then one needs to go through due process in the state assembly," he explained.

‘Elaborate game of theft'

In his speech entitled ‘Human Rights and Good Governance' at the seminar, Razaleigh focused on the importance of the open tender system in government projects and procurements; public service as trusteeship; and the rule of law to guarantee human rights.

Drawing from first-hand experience as a public servant, he said that good practices in public services require an ethos of public service to be seen as trusteeship.

However, he noted that politicians today are "different" and that they have no understanding of the distinction between private and public assets.

Of late, for example, "negotiated tender" and "direct nego" have become common terms, and represent instances of how the government has failed the people.

Razaleigh said the issue of corruption is one of the biggest challenges to the full enjoyment of human rights by all in Malaysia.

"As a result of corruption, stadiums collapse, bridges fall down, people die unnecessarily on roads not built to specification," he said.

Those who bear the highest responsibility for such violations of human rights "are people in high positions, both official and commercial, engaged in an elaborate game which in reality is simply about stealing public assets".

"The most important safeguard of human rights is the rule of law," he said, with the constitution ultimately protecting the human rights of citizens.
tunku abdul rahman 290809Founding prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman (left) understood the importance of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR), he said.

"He had wanted to have the UNDHR inserted as a supplement to our constitution. I am not sure what prevented him from doing so, but it is clear from his conduct and from his statements that he shared its ethos," he said.

Razaleigh urged the people to remember the spirit in which Malaysia began "and the ethos we must now fight to recover".

The day-long seminar, held in Kuala Lumpur, was organised by the regional office of the United Nations in Malaysia. About 80 participants attended the event, themed ‘Embrace diversity and end discrimination'.