As if NEP wasn't bad enough, we have BTN

YOURSAY 'Every vile regime has used re-education of the rakyat as a tool to brainwash the masses that corruption, cronyism, nepotism are good.'

Can this be the end, BTN?

Swipenter: We do not need BTN (Biro Tatanegara) to inculcate patriotism. All you need is a government that practices and defends the principles of equal citizenship, equal opportunity and equal treatment for all under the law. Patriotism will inherently grow in the hearts and minds of every Malaysian.

Now BTN seeks to destroy the 1Malaysia spirit that was once common amongst us before fascism in the guise Mahathirism spread and took root in our nation by deliberate design.

The Malays themselves must wake up to the fact that their culture is also being slowly wiped out by the process of deliberate Arabisation. Culture must be distinguished from religion because religion is religion, and not a form of culture/racial identity.

Fair&Just: As if the NEP (New Economic Policy) is not enough, they have to set up the BTN to drive home their ill intent, which is to suppress the other races forever in the land and become their serfs paying taxes but given no opportunities or just crumbs.

Is this the way of God's chosen people? Will God be doing justice for the victims?

Ranjit Singh: I remember, after the Hindraf uprising in 2007, one of my Malay friends who worked in a government agency related her experience at one of the BTN courses where they were shown the picture of the Hindraf chairperson and classified him as "musuh negara" (enemy of the country) similar to Osama bin Laden.

BTN needs to be abolished or revamped with participation from all segments of the community if it intends to foster patriotism amongst Malaysians. Go look at their policymakers and the corporate structure, and you will understand what I mean.

Headhunter: Despotic regimes like the Khmer Rouge and Chinese Communist Party during the cultural revolution used exactly the same tactics as the BTN.

And when they failed to convince the populace, the next option was to kill or jail those who were perceived to be in opposition to the regime.

And those impressible and weak subjected to such brainwashing techniques became emotional and started to shed tears and believed their leaders.

The good news is that such regimes ended up losing their power because they could fool most people most of the time, but they could not fool them all of the time.

YF: Every vile regime and despot have used re-education of the rakyat as a tool to brainwash the masses that corruption, cronyism, nepotism are good and is in line with their religion.

For the civil servants, they are in the worst of positions as they have to lie in order to retain their jobs and career in the corrupt civil service. Is this what our forefathers had promised the rakyat?

Blind Freddo: Parents, schools, religious indoctrinators, BTN, National Service, political parties... It doesn't matter who it is, this whole country is based on lies, half truths and misinterpretations in an attempt to control and manipulate.

In fact, control and manipulation is now so commonplace you take it as the norm.

Thetruth: The BTN is the greatest achievement of the Mahathir era. BTN is the most racist government machine which serves and preserves a racist and corrupt party. It must be swept out of the country if we want to progress in the right direction.

Abasir: "Question: Who should get a government contract? Correct answer: A local company known to be a strong supporter of the ruling party, but with limited competence."

This is the essence of Mahathir's vision for Malaysia in which Umno, lording over the incompetent, rules forever.

This also explains why we have so many half-wits, imbeciles and inepts at the top of agencies, GLCs (government-linked companies) and government departments and why the cabinet is always as Mahathir put it, 'half-past six'.

Diary of a Biro Tatanegara participant

Giudice: There are so many things wrong with this country that it is difficult to know where to start. While all of us bear some responsibility, some more than others, the bottom line is that the buck stops with BN as the government.

They have failed us, it is indisputable and only the BN apologists will be blind to it. While it is unlikely we can convince the hardcore BN apologists, we must make every effort to convince everyone else, especially the youth and fence sitters, to vote for change.

We must give Pakatan a chance and make it known that we have the power to do so and also, if Pakatan does not perform in the way that we want, we shall exercise our power to vote them out of government.

Anonymous #20926157: I have been to a BTN camp myself as a local university student. To be fair, not all of the instructors are racist bigots, but the problem is the system itself.

The instructors also have their own feelings about the government but the 'big bosses' are always watching and keeping an eye on them to make sure they indoctrinate us properly.

To love our country is one thing but what they are teaching is blind obedience and subservience instead of liberal and logical thinking.

Xiao Zhu: I attended the BTN probably 20 years ago because the GLC I was working for had nothing better to do and sent the staff to 'clean their brain'.

One group failed to get up on time for prayer and the rest of the group that have nothing to do with the prayer were punished, too. How nice. - Malaysiakini