BN heading for the ‘grave’ in GE14, BTN warns

Screen capture of one of the slides that BTN used to show that racism can unite a race for a ‘good purpose’.KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 ― Hobbled by “weak” component parties including MCA, MIC and Gerakan, the Barisan Nasional (BN) ruling coalition is set to to be buried in the 14th general elections, the National Civics Bureau (BTN) has forecasted.

In a “grave” warning presented through a set of slides available on its website until yesterday, the government agency also cautioned that the Najib administration’s credibility is being eroded by many scandals, including irregularities in the management of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), corruption and power abuse allegations.

“The current peace, safety and prosperity can disappear in a blink of eye if not taken care of properly. A nation building process can be realised if a country’s politics is stable,” said the slides which was uploaded on March 26, 2015.

“What will happen if there is no political stability?” it asked, warning that Malaysia might become like Cambodia during the Pol Pot Regime.

The slides have since been removed from BTN’s website after they started being shared on social media yesterday.

In the slides, BTN also said BN is now up against a “DAP wave” as the opposition party courts Malay voters through their new Malay recruits, and Bumiputera voters in Sabah and Sarawak using its Impian projects.

It also accused Chinese-language dailies of joining the “nerve war” against BN through “subtle” attacks and promotion of opposition parties.

Screen capture of one of the slides from BTN’s website after they started being shared on social media yesterday.A slide suggested Umno pin down potential candidates in swing seats for the next polls due in 2018, especially those who are “winnable” instead of “win-cable”, in reference to candidates who rely solely on their political connections.

In its summary, BTN listed down the three pillars of religion, race and the motherland: Umno, the Malay Bumiputera, and several demographics which included hardline groups Perkasa, Pekida, and Malay academics.

Yesterday, Malay Mail Online reported that independent book publishers have been tarred by the BTN as masterminds of an “anti-establishment” movement to influence youths voting in the 14th general election, in another set of presentation slides.

Despite denials by the government and the agency, sporadic leaks of closed-door events conducted by the BTN or featuring its staff have continued to entrench suspicions that the bureau was a hotbed of racism and “brainwashing”.

A senior BTN official caused an uproar back in 2010 when word leaked that he had used the terms “si mata sepet” and “si botol” at a closed-door Puteri Umno gathering to describe the Chinese and Indians respectively.

The terms are considered derogatory with “si mata sepet” meaning slit-eyed and “si botol”, alcoholic, in Malay.

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