PARLIAMENT The issues of provocation and racism allegedly taking place in courses conducted by the National Civics Bureau (BTN) do not arise.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Razali Ibrahim said this was because many programmes conducted involved all communities.

“We really welcome all Malaysians to request for us to carry out programmes, there is no problem on that.

“In fact, during the period BTN was implemented, which covered all communities, the issues of provocation and racism did not arise,” he told the Dewan Rakyat in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said this when replying to a supplementary question from Rubiah Wang (BN-Kota Samarahan) who wanted to know if the government wanted to carry out a transformation of BTN after feedback received described the bureau as being provocative in nature.

He stressed the government viewed seriously the claims made by certain quarters and would take apropriate action if it really took place.

“We (BTN) has never stoked hatred, anger among our participants. If there are complaints, which can be forwarded to us, we will look into them. We have never differentiated our participants on the basis of politics and personal interests,” he said.

To a supplementary question from Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP-Kepong) who wanted to know how much was spent for BTN’s activities and the criteria for picking lecturers in its programme, Razali said, to date, the government spent RM30 million a year.

“For lecturers, we will look at the backgrounds of the participants in our programmes. This is because we have many different programmes with varying target groups including students, community and corporate leaders, civil servants and those going abroad,” he added.

- Bernama