MIC want to look first at Interlok changes

MIC wants to be consulted on the changes to ‘Interlok’ before the book is resent to classrooms.

This follows Deputy Prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s earlier announcement that the controversial textbook would remain in the fifth form Malay literature syllabus after ‘changes’ in response to vehement protests from the Indian community.

“MIC wants the education ministry to consult our panellists on the matter,” party president Datuk G. Palanivel said, adding that the independent panellists that will be making recommendations to the government would have to take “a careful look at what is being edited so no further dispute arises.”

Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said an independent panel would be set up to study amendments to several aspects deemed sensitive by the Indian community.

The novel, by National Laureate Datuk Abdullah Hussein, sparked controversy following the ministry’s decision to select it as part of the Malay literature syllabus, with several parties claiming that it contains words deemed sensitive to the Indian community including “pariah” which refers to a lowly group in the Indian caste system.

Muhyiddin said the panel would comprise linguists, academicians, literary figures and representatives of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka as well as the Indian community and the book would only be used after the amendments had been done.

He said that the education ministry would instruct teachers to continue with the existing syllabus so as not to disrupt the teaching and learning process.

Palanivel said that he and his deputy Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam had met both Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Muhyiddin yesterday on the Interlok issue to ask that the book not be used in schools as “it may hurt the feelings of Indian students and provoke negative thoughts among other students.”

He added that Najib had informed them this morning that a panel would go through the book and remove all unsuitable remarks that hurts the feelings of Indians.

Palanivel said that he and Subramaniam had then told Najib that the book should not be used in classrooms while it is being reviewed. - Malaysian Insider