usm brainwash seminar btn namelist Selangor Pakatan Rakyat's young leaders today urged the state government to stop sending students to ‘Biro Tata Negara' programmes, which they say has deviated from its original intention.

Amiruddin Shari (PKR-Batu Caves) said the nation-building programmes organised by the PM's department has become a tool to spread "Umno/BN political ideology and racial politics".

"From the feedback we have received from participants, they were indoctrinated in Malay supremacy propaganda and outside influences," said Amiruddin.

"They are not given room to express their views, as the programmes are mostly run in monologues."

He added that the programmes ran contrary to BTN's original intention and goes against the federal constitution which is to instil a spirit of nationalism in participants.

"Students are the assets of the country, so they should never be prevented from having a critical mind. But this programme has thwarted this process," he said.

Amiruddin suggested that students should be, instead, sent for educational programmes that allows them to voice their opinions.

"This could be done through public forums and not like the BTN programmes which is closed-door and done discreetly," he said.

Amiruddin said Selangor-owned colleges and universities such as Universiti Industri Selangor (Unisel), Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor (Kuis) and Kolej Inspens have started such programmes.

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Janice Lee Ying Ha (DAP-Teratai) said that BTN programmes should be transparent and not done discreetly behind closed doors.

"It seems to me that the programme exists just to brainwash the students. They should be open about the programme instead of doing it discreetly," she said.

Nik Nazmi Nik Ahma y4c youth roundtable 040707 nik nazmi d (PKR-Seri Setia) ( left ), admitted BTN programmes had deviated from its original principle a long time ago, when he was still a student.

"The BTN programme I attended even told students that (opposition leader) Anwar Ibrahim was a Jewish agent and labeled PAS as ‘Parti ajaran sesat'.

"They also instilled hatred by championing Malay supremacy until two or three Chinese students who attended the programme felt scared," he said.

Nik Nazmi urged the federal government to be sincere about the programmes and not to instil hatred for other races which is contrary to the ‘1Malaysia concept'.

Amiruddin said Pakatan young leaders will send a letter of protest letter to Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and Dr Halimah Ali who is in charge of the education and higher education portfolio.