Put an End to Biro Tata Negara to Stop Racial Remarks

The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia Youth Section Chief (FeCAM-Youth) Hii Yik Ping condemn the ex-special officer of Prime Minister, Nasir Safar who allegedly made racial remarks during a 1Malaysia seminar held in Malacca. The resignation of Nasir will not solve the root problem but only individual case. To kill the problem once and for all, the government must put an end to Biro Tata Negara (BTN), a course that is said to promote racism.

BTN is run by the Prime Minister’s Department for university students, government scholars and civil servants. Its main objective is to inculcate patriotism and sense of responsibility among the civil servants. However, many of the participants have revealed that the content of the course promotes racism.

Hii Yik Ping believes that BTN as a legal platform which promotes racism is the key factor to Nasir’s racial remarks. Therefore, Prime Minister Najib should close down all BTN courses and set up a committee that consists of bipartisan leaders, academicians and members of civil society to come up with training courses that really promote patriotism. Apart from that, the trainers of BTN should be reshuffled and only those who fulfill the criteria of multi racial spirit will be hired.

He also said that PM’s aide is an example that many civil servants are victims of BTN.

“Although Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri has told that Prime Minister’s Department will look into the matter and will amend the content of the course, The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia Youth Section feels that BTN should be closed down as it goes in line with the Prime Minister’s 1Malaysia slogan.”

Besides that, The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia Youth Section suggest that Prime Minister should review the decision of setting aside Race Relations Acts and ratification of the United Nation’s International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 1965.

"This is to maintain the racial relationship of different communities in Malaysia and to avoid any other remarks, acts or policies that will worsen the interracial relationship, besides ensuring that the spirit of 1Malaysia will continue to shine."

By setting up Race Relation Act, the government can also follow the example shown by United Kingdom, in which the country’s Race Relations Act 1976 has well defined “provocation of racial hatred”. Meanwhile, the government can also set up Race Relation Court to handle cases regarding this and form a Racial Equality Committee to put in more effort on racial discrimination issues.

Lastly,The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia Youth Section would like to urge Najib to shut down Biro Tata Negara, review the set aside Race Relation Act and ratify United Nation’s International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 1965.