Biro Tata Negara, Sabah and Sarawak

There has been much debate in the press lately about the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) course. The BTN course is supposedly aimed at creating patriotism among civil servants and students of public universities.

BTN made the news recently when the Selangor state government barred all of its civil servants from attending the BTN course. Many opposition leaders also slammed the BTN for indoctrinating participants with racist propaganda that only serve to divide Malaysians.

Many leaders gave their views and finally Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Nazri Abdul Aziz admitted that the BTN needs to be revamped in order to promote a united Malaysia.

Unfortunately there seem to be little or no opinion at all from leaders of both Sabah and Sarawak. This is saddening. The leaders of Sabah and Sarawak should make their voices audible to the general public so that the people know that they are concerned as leaders of the people.

Any revamp of the BTN course too should include modules on the formation of Malaysia. Participants must know of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 signed between the Federation of Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak, Singapore and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Participants must also know of events leading to the agreement such as the Inter-Governmental Committee and the Cobbold Commission as well as the reactions of the peoples of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore at that time.

Thirdly, they must also know of the 20-point condition imposed by Sabah and the 18-point condition imposed by Sarawak for Malaysia to be formed. Participants must also be made aware of certain articles of the Federal Constitution that are not applicable in Sabah and Sarawak.

Fourthly, participants must also be introduced to the cultures and religions of indigenous Sabahans and Sarawakians.

Only when participants truly know their own country can the BTN claim itself to be an instrument to inculcate patriotism.