THUMBS UP FOR BTN

(in response to the article "Refection of a singking Bahtera Merdeka" by Dr. Azly Rahman in Malaysia today)

Astonishing! From his article, Dr Azly Rahman claims

- an educator and of an astute stature having given a speech at Harvard University on "ambiguities of freedom" in post-March 8 revolution in Malaysia.

- “the BTN is the chief institution that disseminates the idea of Malay supremacy, makes Malays docile, wages nDoc germ warfare on Malays, breeds inter-racial hatred, destroys the possibility of inter-race dialogue, makes Malays afraid of themselves and their own shadow, and psyches Malays into believing that only UMNO is their true saviour”

- “his own personal experience with BTN in1980’s that BTM programs turning the Malay participants into leaders to hate especially the Chinese”.

I also did attended and found, unlike Dr Azly, that the BTN course satisfactorily achieved its objectives of inculcating the sense of Ketuanan Melayu (for my definition of Ketuanan Melayu see my blog at www.whackthembugger.blogspot.com), an alien concept to me then.

Backgrounder

Living among the Chinese communities in Ipoh during my entire schooling days, many of trusted friends were non Malays. Somehow after the infamous May 13 incident perhaps out of inherent fear, suspicion and sense of security, I got acquainted with more Malay friends but still never aside my friendship with the non-Malays. Through out my professional career, I believed I have worked well and fairly easy with all races. Living in this blessed country, mutual respect is mighty crucial for business as well as for the peace and harmony to prevail within a multiracial and religious society. My exposure to “Ketuanan Melayu” was practically absent then.

Akurjanji Culture

Maybe I am not as educated or qualified as Dr Azly Rahman .I confess I am no political scientist to be able to analyze and envisage the kind of extensive ‘carpet bombing, systematic mental genocide of Malays, the nDoc virus etc” to conclude vis a vis the Malays in general are “mentally subdued, docile etc contributing them extensively a few people. But this I know, the bulk of the Malays are engaged in the public sector and not the private sector. I would believe that being relatively immobile, they have a natural phobia “not to bite the hand that feeds them” (ie the Government) in the open. But when came 12 GE where the ballots were deemed secret, this set of people whom Dr Azly referred to could have been among those who gave a good swing of votes to the opposition. In Islam, if you see some wrong act, first use your hand to remedy the wrong, if you can’t then use mouth, even if that you cannot do that, then say it in your heart, Almighty understands. Indeed during the GE 12, these people being fully assured their ‘periok nasi’ is safe, finally used their hand on the ballot papers in demonstrating their perception of what’s right or wrong.

Bonda senyum riang (Mother smiled with joy)

Now there’s this national call for Ketuanan Melayu getting stronger and louder by the day. Many Malay NGO’s and prominent individuals are in togetherness in looking forward for some favorable outcome. The Malay electorates are genuinely concern as they feel insecure about their future, about their children’s welfare, about their race and religion and so the call for Ketuanan Melayu reverberate..

A newly designed ship, the Bahtera Merdeka with its Ketuanan Rakyat’s flag hosted up high, is in the docks of mainland West Malaysia, appears not quite ready to be launched to set sail for a long tough journey in search of the land of many promises. This new ship has 3 different able captains but each is clumsily learning to steer the wheels of the newly designed ship. Learning to pilot on still waters is never that simple especially when there some really big holes to plug. These 3 captains could sense from their most sophisticated radar system that an unexpected storm is approaching. The radar also indicates that a 50 year old junk of battle ship once perceived as sinking seemed opportune to capitalize on the stormy weather. This old junk flies several flags but the “despicable” Ketuanan Melayu flag seemed prominently hosted at the center. The 3 captains being skillful politicians, fearing their many of newly recruited passengers (of protest voters) may jump ship even before its official launch, takes on a common ploy - putting the blame elsewhere and this time to hit BTN and UMNO, the prime mover of Ketuanan Melayu.

Respect for Ketuanans

During my primary school days some 45 years ago, the sekolah rendah kebangsaan I attended was packed with non Malay students. At the sekolah rendah kebangsaan (just walking distance from my house) where all my children go for their primary education, one can hardly find Chinese students there. I was informed that the Chinese preferred to send their kids to Chinese primary schools. I would take it that the Chinese have their individual “indoctrination” programs to sustain their wishes and I have no qualms about it.

Certain nights as I just drive around the Chinese part of the new villages, I see frequent Chinese cultural happenings; Malaysia is truly a magnificent country endowed with wonderfully rich and diverse cultures. I respect the many cultures of the Chinese as they respect mine and so similarly with the Indians and others.

The BTN programs have purpose.

Now back to BTM programs, sometime during the last couple of months of TDM’ retirement, upon invitation, I attended a 3-4 day “national service” program organized by BTN. We, the “chosen ones”, comprise mostly very senior executives and top heads from the private as well as government corporations and institutions. “Chosen” because we were given the absolute discretion to choose whether we wish to attend or not; on my part there was absolutely no compulsion. I was glad I made the correct choice to attend. Those who participated included several of my clients and friends, so I wasn’t without company nor felt lonely being away from my family at a secluded location about 11/2 hours drive from home.

Unlike Dr. Azly Rahman, I found the BTN course

- an shocking eye opener; the facts and statistics laid bare before us demonstrated the status and achievements and the economic well being of the Malays in relation to the others;

- pressures and forces, both national and international, that continues ‘threatening’ the Malay community especially teenagers were highlighted and focused (generally applicable to other races too). These included the supposedly bad influences of the entertainment world, the channels of communication (media), drugs, etc

- analysis and factors that influence the performance of Malay students and the inability of some to response appropriately upon exposure to the world ie once they are detached from the family

- historical development of our country, etc, etc.

Perhaps appreciating the make up and seniority of the participants, the BTN program was conducted in a most open environment with none of the junk Dr Azli referred earlier. If my memory serves me correct, the indoctrination program reminded us a lot about the poor state of our “roots” ie Malay race and as I reflected, I felt most sad, who shouldn’t be but that’s life as preordained by our creator, the Almighty, the most Beneficent and Compassionate. If we have the will to change our lives (fate), He will change it. So if we failed, we should not put the blame others except ourselves FULL STOP.

The Government continues to spent substantial amounts for the development of Malay students (amid instances of favoritism). Somehow Malay youths seemed very susceptible to the luring of worldly temptations and that is a genuine concern. Thus for its teen programs, BTN’s message of Ketuanan Melayu has to be hammered hard and in right into their brains to remind them who they are and what their responsibilities are. I would not disagree with that approach because even during my time, there were many students (financed by the Government or their institutions) who strayed from their studies and flopped. By the way, my daughter did her national service last year after her form 5 and she really enjoyed it.

I also do not share Dr Azly’s many desperate wants (“I want this lah and that lah, no not that lah, should be like this lah etc”), it reflects something horrible must have happened him; he sounds really confused, frustrated and very much sickly. He should have more Faith; if the pleadings are too many or too unrealistic, He may not grant want any at all. Be reasonable, accept that we are merely human and have limitations on what can we achieve.

Finally I categorically refute Dr Azly’s many baseless accusations on BTN and the effects of their programs. The programs themselves are beneficial for the Malays within the context of Ketuanan Melayu. As to the organization itself, it’s just natural for the organizers to want the programs to achieve as many aims as possible. Of course some educators are better than others in their approach and communication skills. For me and I believe too for most participants, we are matured enough to make up our own mind on what’s good or bad, what’s reasonable, illogical, unreasonable or fictitious; we take from the program what we like and discard those we think are rubbish and as we reflect, we move on in life searching for the manifold bounties out there.

I am just a simple minded Melayu (like a lazy big fat berok) who stay up on the tree top and from that vantage point, I dreamily watch the many opportunities slip way. I see no reason to compare with the Spartans or Athenians for examples, the Malays too has a long history with many examples and if anyone that the Malays should wish to emulate or compare, it’s the Prophet of Islam (PBUH)

END