MCA tells gov't to slay BTN beast

The MCA has called on the Public Service Department (PSD) to probe and take action against National Civics Bureau (BTN) deputy director Hamim Husin if the latter is found to have uttered racial slurs against Chinese and Indian Malaysians.

If necessary, the police should charge Hamim under the Sedition Act 1960 over his insults against the communities.

“It is time to put a halt to the arrogance and intolerance of bigots,” said MCA’s deputy publicity bureau chief Loh Seng Kok ( left ) in a hard-hitting statement issued earlier today.

Loh said the party is appalled that a senior official of a government body - one of whose primary objectives is to instill patriotism among citizens - can be so racist and provocative to the minority communities.

“As society develops, it is shameful that a public servant employed by the National Civics Bureau which trains upcoming civil servants has (allegedly) used such derogatory stereotypical terms of si sepet mata (slit eyes) and si botol (alcoholic) of a bygone era against Chinese and Indians.”

Hamim's remarks were reportedly made during a closed-door function with Puteri Umno yesterday, according to the Malaysian Insider .

“The rights of Malays is to rule the country. Simple. Malays must unite in the face of threats,” he was quoted as saying.

Later, when acknowledging that the Malays could not rule the country without the cooperation of non-Malays, Hamim allegedly said: “That’s why we make friends with the MCA and MIC.

“Th e si mata sepet that has never gone to a mosque or surau only has one vote. The si botol that only knows how to go up to Batu Caves up and down only has one vote."

In the wake of the degoratory remarks, Loh said Hamim should be calling for all races to strive towards the inclusive 1Malaysia concept of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak (left) .

“BTN, as a government body, has a responsibility to cultivate trust, not rear racial prejudice and polarisation based on an 'us versus them' dogma,” said Loh.

“Our party knows for sure that all Chinese and Indian (Malaysians) are also citizens are all equal before the law as provide by Article 8(1) of the federal constitution which reads that 'All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law'.”

Loh, who is also MCA central committee member, also called for BTN courses to be overhauled and revamped in order to produce civil servants who reflect the inclusivity of 1Malaysia and have a “mindset of moderation” and “mutual respect” rather than be “extremists stuck in racial parochialism”.

Najib, what about home-grown extremists?

Opposition leaders and the MIC have also slammed the alleged remarks, describing Hamim as an enemy of Najib’s 1Malaysia pronouncements.

“When the BTN can continue its offensive, insensitive and racist ‘brain washing’ not only among civil servants but extend it to political activists in Umno circles like Umno Puteri, it is clear that Najib is facing an open revolt, which clearly has the backing of Muhyiddin,” said DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang in reference to Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

While praising Najib for his maiden speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York yesterday decrying “the extremists who hold the world hostage with their bigotry and bias”, Lim wants to know what action the premier would take against the extremists at home.

“I call on the cabinet tomorrow to dissolve BTN – which clearly is no more Biro Tatanegara but Biro Tentang Negara – and institute action against Hamin to prove that Najib’s call for the triumph of moderation over extremism is not only meant for international consumption in UN but also at home.

“Borrowing Najib’s analogy in UN yesterday, the real issue in Malaysia is not between Malays and non-Malays or Muslims and non-Muslims but between the moderates and extremists of all races and religions in the tasks of creating an united, vibrant, competitive and prosperous Malaysian nation.”

MIC vice-president Dr S Subramaniam has called for investigations into and action to be taken against the BTN official.

“I wish to state here that the BTN is a government agency under the Prime Minister’s Department. If an officer from this agency is found to have passed such remarks, it can be construed as reflecting the views of the government.

“It will also reflect badly on the government and have adverse effects on the 1 Malaysia concept,” he said in a statement.

Subramaniam reportedly also called on BTN director-general Shagul Hamid Abdullah to act on the matter.