BTN must be abolished, says Nik Nazmi

PETALING JAYA: The government’s decision to retain the controversial National Civics Bureau (BTN) despite a widespread outcry has been questioned by PKR Youth leader Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

The Setiawangsa MP said the decision to retain BTN was disappointing as it had become a political propaganda tool used to incite hatred and fear among different races and religious groups.

“We have also committed in Buku Harapan (Pakatan Harapan’s general election manifesto) to abolish BTN.

“Malaysians are watching the government’s every move and their estimation of it will rise or fall depen- ding on how it performs in implementing its election promises.

“The BTN must be abolished, full stop,” said Nik Nazmi in a statement.

Last month it was reported that BTN, which had previously been accused of promoting intolerance, was among 26 government departments and agencies that would continue to be placed under the Prime Minister’s Department in a proposal to rationalise government entities.

This move was questioned by various politicians and NGOs, including DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and the G25 group of eminent Malays.

On July 9, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman was quo- ted as saying that BTN would be abolished.

But on Monday, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Mohamed Farid Md Rafik told the Dewan Rakyat that the government was still trying to refine how to improve BTN’s functions.

He said the matter was still being discussed in Cabinet.

Nik Nazmi pointed out that it was less than a month ago that Syed Saddiq said BTN would be abolished, adding: “What has changed since then?”

He said a body like BTN, which seeks in effect to control the thoughts of Malaysian citizens, was outdated.