Despite numerous calls from student bodies and the opposition urging the government to abolish the controversial and ‘racist’ Biro Tatanegara (BTN) programme, Umno Youth head Khairy Jamaluddin said such a move was 'impossible'.

"I don’t think it’s possible (to abolish it) because it’s a government agency whose job is to instill patriotism among the youth.

"But at the same time, every government agency including BTN should make an effort to update their modules to reflect the '1Malaysia' concept," he told reporters in Parliament today.

khairy jamaluddin Khairy ( left ), who has been mum on the matter since returning from performing the Haj recently, admitted that some of the BTN modules may have some 'ethno-nationalist' stance in them.

"But I followed it and many of the modules focus on things that we have in common [...] so it is unfair to say that the entire thing is racist or it is a racist organisation," said Khairy, who is former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s son-in-law.

The Rembau MP further added that the participants may have different views on BTN courses but their perception can be improved by adding more modules of the '1Malaysia' concept.

"As far as I am concerned, you go into BTN and you come out based on your own personal prejudices.

"[...] That pretty much depends on their sensitivity. That’s where we can improve it by adding more modules on '1Malaysia' to expose them to more outlooks," said Khairy.

Won’t comment on rumours

On a another matter , Khairy refused to comment on strong rumours suggesting that he would be replacing Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib as deputy minister for tourism.

sulaiman taib "What do you want me to say? I don’t want to comment on rumours," he replied curtly when asked whether there any truth to the rumours.

Speculation has been rife in cyberspace that Khairy, who does not hold any ministerial position despite holding one of the top posts in Umno, would be replacing Sulaiman.

Sulaiman ( right ), who is also the son of Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud resigned from his post last month citing personal reasons.

Speculation was that he had clashed with former tourism minister Azalina Othman Said and current minister Ng Yen Yen over his work.

However, his father Abdul Taib has clarified to the media that his son’s resignation was related to his mother’s death early this year.

The BTN debacle