SHAH ALAM: The Selangor state government has banned its civil servants, employees of state subsidiaries and students in state-owned educational institutions from attending courses conducted by the Biro Tata Negara (BTN).

State education, higher education and human capital development committee chairman Dr Halimah Ali said the ban was with immediate effect.

She told this to reporters after the weekly state executive council meeting here today.

She added that notices to this effect would be issued to the parties concerned to ensure compliance.

Earlier this month, Batu Caves state assemblyman Amirudin Shari urged the Selangor government to stop sending graduates to attend BTN programme, which is under the Prime Minister's Department, because it "inculcates racial sentiments amongst students".

Gerakan Youth had also called for a review and overhaul of the programme to make it more in tune with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's 1Malaysia spirit.

Based on feedback from the public, some officers in BTN had abused their position and power to fan racial sentiment, said Gerakan Youth in a statement on Nov 18.