It's good that the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) issue has come out in the open, thanks to the recent public testimonies of those who have been subjected to its brainwashing while waiting to go overseas for studies. Their revelations of the machinations of the State to indoctrinate the young with racist thoughts have been nothing short of appalling. That this has been going on for at least two decades makes it all the more inexcusable. It goes to show that we have been living in a country that, on the one hand, seemingly calls for racial unity but, on the other, promotes racial hatred. Such a premise could get a conspiracy theorist really excited. If this continues, why bother talking about 1Malaysia? Is it any wonder that many people are actually not convinced by Najib Razak’s slogan?

Anyone who defends or opposes the BTN at this point will inevitably show his true colours. Dr Mahathir did when he said the BTN was not racist and that it should be continued because it was actually serving a good cause, which he euphemistically called “patriotism”. Minister Nazri Aziz, however, begs to differ and has rightly announced that the Government will be revamping the BTN’s curriculum. He has even come out to call Mahathir a racist for the latter’s pronouncement. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin blames the raising of the BTN issue on the Opposition and wants a stop to further debate on it. This is the kind of politics we have come to expect since the last few decades: when the Government is under fire, always blame the Opposition. The good news is, nobody buys that any more.

Do we really need the BTN? Are our students so weak-willed and weak-minded that they need to undergo the programming it provides? It would appear ours is one of only a few countries – if not the only country – that has such a programme. Even kiasu Singapore doesn’t have that. They do have their National Service. Well, so do we. And our NS is yet another propaganda-sowing facility. With our youths already being subjected to so much programming and indoctrination throughout their early lives – in fact, from the moment they enter primary school, they are already conditioned into becoming obedient citizens – why do we need to deprive them of the right to think for themselves?

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