The ridiculous suggestion to block Facebook proposed by Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Communication and Multimedia Minister, allegedly to promote harmony, has once again put Malaysia in the world news headlines for the wrong reason.

Instead of banning Facebook, the Barisan Nasional government should instead look at the problems created by its own agencies such as the Biro Tata Negara (BTN). BTN, a government agency that is supposed to promote national unity but has been turned into a brainwashing unit to espouse racial supremacy as well as to support UMNO and BN.

If the BN government is serious about preventing hate speech and instead creating a harmonious multicultural society, the authorities should consider abolishing the BTN instead of blocking Facebook.

The BTN is the root cause of increasing hatred among different communities where the agency under Prime Minister Department is spreading racist elements through their training and courses conducted for students and civil servants.

Dissolving a hate-mongering agency will not only prevent further hatred and suspicions among Malaysians but also able to save taxpayers’ money.

This year, the BTN is allocated RM 64.8 million while our Parliament RM 86 million. The small difference means UMNO-BN prefers to promote racism than to respect the Parliament as the highest decision-making body in the country.

Most Malaysians are mature enough to handle freedom and democracy. Even if the BN government blocks Facebook, there will always be some people posting hate speeches online.

It is the government’s systematic brainwashing through BTN and other racist-themed events that worry many Malaysians.

Therefore, I urge the BN government to stop entertaining its Minister’s silly proposal, and instead dissolve the BTN immediately to achieve a long-term aim of creating a moderate Malaysia where there will be no hatred among the people on the basis of race, religion, gender or class.