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I’ve been reading about the Selangor government’s decision to bar its employees, and students of state-own institutions from attending the Biro Tatanegara camp/course. Those going overseas under government scholarship, civil servants, and others related to government are required to attend the camp.

I remember reading some anonymous letters and emails that pop up time to time, saying the camps are degrading other communities. Of course, being anonymous, you can’t really put any worth on it.  Probably the participants not able to come forward since their rice bowl or chance will be jeopardized.

As usual, the proponents of the camp comes from one particular group. So, I wonder if the our Chinese and Indian participants did enjoy the camp or have positive comments to say.  Their words will have more effect in promoting the camps.

jaya says:

hi,

i’m a gov staff. Attended BTN last April.

No HP, camera or any recording devices allowed in camp. Reason: to learn how to live without modern devices.
Truth: To avoid any recordings. They will tell us that malays are origin of this land. Although Malays are from Indonesia, they are not immigrants as indon & tanah melayu is at same region & culture. But indians and chinese are immigrants coz v r from other region.

Others have no rights to question Malays as Malay have already sacrifice a lot by giving citizenship during independence. Only Malays are fought for independence. Others just ‘tumpang nama’ as was requested by British. It was British’ plot to avoid Malays to be champion in their own land.

Umno is a great party, safeguard of Malays & rulers. DAP is communist & Singapore linked. They will sell M’sia if win. Anwar Ibrahim is traitor, PAS is taliban, but Hadi is ok coz want to form unity gov with UMNO. Hindraf is racist.

Chin Peng sholud be killed, but Boustaman & Rafidah Pakir(both are malay communist) are ok coz they fought for independence. They even show a Tugu at Nirvana memorial stood for those died during war, but BTN says why we should remember chinese who r mostly communist.

Conclusion: Chinese & Indian have no right in malaysia, just get waht is gov giving & be a beggar to UMNO.

Posted on November 27th, 2009

jaya says:

@jaya, this is what i experienced in a BTN camp. BTN in actually UMNO camp. Even my Malay ffriends say this camp should be avoided. They want it to be a true patriotic camp. Not UMNO camp.

Posted on November 27th, 2009

Killer says:

Poobalan

That the accusation that BTN is a political brainwashing session is coming from Pakatan is only expected.

Having several of my relatives and friends attended the course, I can tell that at least from their experience the reality is very different.

It seems that the main objective of the course is more to do with unity and nation building similar to what is done in one of the modules of National Service.

I did hear that one or two of the instructors to be rather pro-Malay/Islam in their actions but none were reported to have uttered racist or religiously offensive statements. Certainly none of these people ever say anything about politics.

Reading some of the letters published in Mkini and MInsider,I think these are done with malice to make unfounded accusations. If these accusations are truth, we would be seeing some proofs in Youtube by now.

But having said that there were possiblity that some individuals could have certain agenda but then such people must be reported so action can be taken against them.

As for Jaya here, this is an obvious lie . I advise Jaya to be smarter next time when he/she wants to post some lies on line.

I would like to make a simple challenge to Jaya if he/she disagrees with my statement about lying.

Pls answer how long the course took place, where it was held and also name the modules and hours.

Posted on November 28th, 2009

poobalan says:

Hi Killer,

Well, to tell the truth, yours is the first (relatively) positive comments i heard about the camp. if your friends/relatives can share their experience in here or media, it will be good. no point keep quiet right?

And, not everyone who complaints are PR supporters or readers in MK. I got friends (like those people least interested in politics) who attended it as well, since its compulsory for government staff for their job confirmation. The main grouse is that the continuously stressing of the points that “we are immigrants” and “must be grateful to them”, and the defending of “special privileges”. probably our forefathers could accept that, but the bulk of younger generation are not interested in this. for them, it must be an equal playing field, and need for recognition and respect. The top leaders may be saying so, but the administration and management doesn’t really portray it. its two sides of a coin. govt may consider this as dissent, misinformed, unpatriotic, or “vayasu kolar”, but on the side, the new generation sees a biased, stubborn, rude, uncaring govt. Its like two different thinking clashing. maybe the “truth” hurts for our younger generation. they can’t accept the fact that they are not considered equals, and have to be appreciative of the sacrifices of the majority race in giving citizenship to immigrants.

objectives are just guidelines, its the implementation that’s critical. what BTN can do is invite members of public or NGOs to be observers in all the camps. two people per camp, for example.
of course there are modules for physical activities. spiritual discourse in the morning etc. There’s also team-building activities, and the “History” classes. And trust me, there are politics in it – for example, condemning the “zionists” and talking about foreigners link with politicians. you can safely assume its first hand experience, not hearsay.

In some camps, HPs are asked to be switched off or left in rooms, due to outdoor nature of the activities, so, i can understand if there’s not recordings.

Jaya will be taking a risk if she reveals all that, since can be traced back to her. But that’s her choice.

Posted on November 28th, 2009

Killer says:

Poobalan

I think there is one module is about nation building which talks about “Malay special rights” and the history of the country. Certainly this is not a theme that is being stressed through out the course.

I haven’t heard about any modules (official that is) linked to current politics. If there is, that would be certainly bad but those I spoke to certainly didnt experience that.

If I am the first person to talk positively ? Perhaps it is because these courses had been uncontroversial and uneventful and there is nothing to talk about. These courses had been going on for years and why is that only recently people had been talking about it ? I suggest you speak to actual participants as I did to find out the truth.

Posted on November 28th, 2009

poobalan says:

Killer,

there are few modules with broad themes, but the focus ends up the same, if you get what i mean. and yeah, there’s the good stuff like running, team building games, eating etc, but obviously the bad stuff is the one that remains in the mind.

there’s another possibility on you being the first (for me) one talking positively a bit – maybe there’s nothing positive to talk about or there’s general “tidak apa” attitude among us. once the tide changed in 2007, people are being more vocal. but for your info, i remember complaints about BTN from friends before 2007 itself. most are govt staff/scholarship holders etc, so just talk among themselves and can’t afford to put it on record. just have to bear with it and take care of their rice bowl. Plus, its just their own experience and not recorded proof, so why bother complaining publicly.

And yes, i talked to actual participants, not online commenters like Jaya. 🙂

Posted on November 29th, 2009