The National Civics Bureau (BTN) today denied that they taught course participants to practise racism as the slides leaked online were merely research materials.
BTN director Datuk Raja Arif Raja Ali explained that the leaked slides, which claimed that the concept of “racism” could be used for a “good purpose” especially at a time of inter-ethnic tensions, was a compilation of research material and did not automatically mean BTN practised those same principles.
“We’ve never taught our course participants that... we never said that we’re superior to others. We’ve never said we’re better than other races.
“Those slides are not course materials, those were just our own research... just for us to read. What we read is not necessarily what we practise,” he said during a press conference after BTN’s launching of the National Patriotism Index (NPI) today.
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On June 15, a set of slides uploaded on its website titled “Rasis” claimed that racism could have a “good purpose” but has instead received “negative connotation” as the idea is being used by certain parties to achieve their political goals and topple the government.
The leaked slides claimed that the concept of “racism” had initially originated from the Islamic concept of “asabiyyah”, a positive idea that centred on brotherhood and formed social solidarity in historical Muslim civilisations.
The term “asabiyyah”, originally meaning “tribalism”, was popularised by 14th century Arab historian Ibn Khaldun to describe “social cohesion”.
Raja Arif also spoke of the #Merah169 pro-Malay rally, saying that he did not agree with the demonstration as an intellectual discussion would have been more fruitful.
“Personally I don’t agree. Even from when we were in school, we were taught to cooperate.
“They should sit and have a dialogue, that is more intellectual,” he said.
He added that he didn’t agree with both the #Merah169 rally and the Bersih 4 rally, reiterating that both parties should engage in a dialogue instead of taking to the streets.
“Not just the red shirts, also the yellow. If this happened every day, what will happen to our country?
“We should sit down and discuss these things. There are always things we don’t agree with,” he said.
The September 16 #Merah169 rally saw thousands of Malay protesters descend onto the streets of Kuala Lumpur, many of whom were bussed in from other states, in a bid to protect Malay rights.
During the #Merah169 rally, which was also in response to the Bersih 4 rally, riot police were forced to use water cannons on protesters attempting to breach police lines outside Petaling Street. Protesters also repeatedly charged police lines at Bukit Bintang.
The peaceful 34-hour Bersih 4 rally was held on August 30 and 31 with tens of thousands yellow-clad demonstrators flooding the streets around Dataran Merdeka, calling for the resignation of prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
