Several members of Parliament lambasted Biro Tatanegara (BTN) today for stereo-typing certain student groups and making wild allegations against them at a recent seminar.

Leading the charge was Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) who called on Higher Education Minister Mustapa Mohamed to look into the matter immediately.

Describing the issue as a very serious one, he said it was most unfortunate that BTN has been demonising anti-establishment students linking them to anti-Islamic elements where these elements will pose threats to national security and sovereignty.

Lim expressed concern that the issue may get out of hand if it is left merely to the university authorities to handle as BTN had handled the Aug 26 seminar badly.

At the compulsory one-day seminar themed 'Seminar Bina Negara Mahasiswa' (Building a nation of graduates), first-year students of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) were told Malaysian student groups are being sponsored by Jewish elements hoping to undermine the nation's security.

The seminar, attended by over 2,000 students, was held in USM's Tuanku Syed Putra Hall.

According to one student, the speakers had tried hard to 'demonise' the anti-establishment student groups by linking them to anti-Islamic element.

Asked to comment on the matter, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR-Permatang Pauh) said she was very surprised and shocked over the contents of the seminar organised by BTN.

"This is a brainwashing process. It is really uncalled for that it should happen in an institution of higher learning. Telling students lies and making allegations against others in front of freshies is absolutely wrong and I condemn it," she said when approached by malaysiakini at the Parliament lobby.

Another 'racist' seminar

To Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh), the BTN seminar was another example of a 'racist seminar' which others had complained about in the past.

"BTN should be a bureau to unite students of all races and religions but they seem to be operating to the contrary," she told malaysiakini .

Kok said there was no necessity for BTN to 'lead first-year students by the nose' as students who enrol in public universities are mature enough and can think for themselves.

She also urged that USM students who have attended this seminar to make an effort to find out whether the accusations made by speakers were correct as they should not be mislead.

Meantime, Wong Nai Chee (BN-Kota Melaka) said it was not fair for BTN to accuse any student groups of having links with anti-Islamic elements without carrying out thorough investigations first..

"It is not right for BTN to pass judgement without proper understanding of the student groups. The students should be allowed to form their own judgement.

"On this score, I don't agree with what the BTN had done," the MP added.

However, Deputy Higher Education Minister Ong Tee Keat advised students who were unhappy or felt uncomfortable with the BTN seminar to complain to the university authorities.

He explained that university authorities have the full jurisdiction over affairs that occurred in the university.

Ong also said that it has never been the practice of the ministry to scrutinise the papers to be presented by speakers invited by the university.