KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 — Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman said today the National Civics Bureau’s (BTN) revamp will see a committee formed to tackle the negative perceptions towards the agency, and another to update its syllabus.

“The rebranding committee will be divided into two smaller committees, whereby one will look into the BTN syllabus, specifically the existing modules to update it to current needs and introduce new syllabus such as Negara Bangsa and such, and it will be made up of academics,” she said in a statement.

“On the other hand, the other committee will look into the aspect of perception management, specifically the youth as well as their responsiveness towards the nation in the context of their tasks and responsibilities, whereby their thoughts and voices will be considered.”

She added that while the committees do not directly work on changing the policies of BTN, their input and suggestions will be compiled and presented to the Cabinet for approval.

“As an agency that trains and mobilises the community towards loving the multiracial country, the government must accept the views and feedback in an inclusive manner to strengthen the patriotic spirit of the rakyat that is made up of varying races, religions and political opinions,” she added

Azalina also said she hoped the revamp of BTN would not be made an issue to be politicised as the programmes are meant to also tackle issues of national security.

Newly-appointed BTN director-general Ibrahim Saad had last Thursday said that BTN will be undergoing a rebranding exercise to dispel perceptions that it was racist.

BTN is a three-decade-old agency under the Prime Minister’s Department tasked with promoting patriotism but is often accused of spreading racism.

Despite denials by the government and the agency, sporadic leaks of closed-door events conducted by the BTN or featuring its staff have continued to entrench suspicions that the bureau was a hotbed of racism and “brainwashing”.

The bureau recently experienced an embarrassing episode when internal slides that, among others, claimed racism could be used positively to unite a race, were shared onto the Internet after they were accidentally made available for download on its website.