Pakatan Harapan called to review BTN status: Lim Kit Siang

PETALING JAYA: The Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council is advised to revisit the issue involving the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) or National Civics Bureau, said DAP veteran and Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang.
In a statement today, Lim opined that the advice was in view of Pakatan's promise to scrap the controversial government agency following reports that the BTN would be retained.
"The only reason for the retention of BTN is if there is a total changeover of its objective and operations, for example from inciting hatred and distrust between the races and religions, undertake a total change of its syllabus and objectives to promote national unity and inter-racial and inter-religious understanding, goodwill and harmony.
"Will BTN, if retained, abandon the doctrine of 'Ketuanan Melayu' and replace it with a doctrine of 'Ketuanan Rakyat Malaysia'?" he asked.
He said BTN, which was orginally meant to promote national civic consciousness in a plural society, had degenerated over time into a propaganda outfit that brainwashed civil servants and youngsters into defending the Umno-BN regime.
"Will there be a total change-over in the objective and character of BTN?" he asked.
Lim also slammed MCA for issuing a statement critical of PH on the grounds that the government's move to retain BTN was against the manifesto they had espoused during the GE14 campaign.
"The MCA leader is right, that retaining BTN is in breach of Promise 28 of the Pakatan Harapan manifesto which states that BTN will be dissolved as it had over the years become 'a cheap political agent' for Umno.
"However, the MCA leaders should not shed crocodile's tears over the breach of the Pakatan manifesto to dissolve BTN.
"Let Malaysians know whether and when MCA ministers or MCA deputy ministers had ever criticised BTN for its abuses and excesses in the past, and if they cannot do so, they should not try to be downright opportunistic," he added.
His response came after BTN was reportedly among the 26 government departments and agencies that would continue to be placed under the Prime Minister's Department in a proposal to rationalise government entities.