Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Razali Ibrahim has described the urging by DAP for the National Civic Bureau (BTN) to be dissolved as unreasonable.

According to him, this shows that the party is afraid of the truth.

Razali ( photo ) claimed that BTN had succeeded in enhancing the spirit of patriotism among the people and that was why the opposition parties were afraid that they might lose the people's support.

"On what grounds can the DAP claims that the BTN is racist? Is disclosing what really took place in Lahad Datu racist? Is explaining about constitutional monarchy also racist? I don't see how the BTN is violating any regulations," he was quoted as saying by Bernama after visiting the new Muar Umno building in Muar today.

Yesterday, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang demanded the immediate dissolution of the BTN “because of its racist and anti-national character”.

Lim claimed that the BTN had wasted RM1.1 billion of taxpayers’ money, which should be used to nurture patriotism, racial unity and inter-religious understandings.

However Razali said it was more appropriate for DAP to give its suggestions to improve any weaknesses, rather than calling for immediate dissolution of the BTN.

"We should improve it, not dissolve it. We want to know what is it about the BTN that seems to be a problem to them. I don't see how the dissolution of the BTN will make everything better," he said.

Ultra-Malay racist agency

But DAP is not alone in demanding an end to BTN. A number of former top civil servants have come out to criticise BTN for what they said are attempts to sow disunity.

G25 spokesperson Noor Farida Ariffin, who is a former ambassador, had on Thursday described BTN as an "ultra-Malay racist agency".

Meanwhile, ex-Transport Ministry secretary-general Ramon Navaratnam today also lambasted the BTN.

"I believe it is an insult and a terrible affront to the government's efforts to build national unity...

"So why not scrap BTN in the public and national interests? Why collect taxes to finance these detrimental departments in government for national self-destruction?" he asked.   

On Monday, a security loophole on BTN’s website allowed the public to access some of its files. Of particular interest were a series of presentation slides believed to be used by BTN in its training programmes.

These slides claim that, among others, racism in Malaysia can unite a race for a “good purpose”, and that indie Malay book publishers are out to influence youths to vote against BN.