Palanivel calls for patience over Interlok row

MIC president G Palanivel wants the public to wait for the independent panel on the Interlok novel to resolve the controversy.


MIC president G Palanivel today urged all parties to refrain from issuing statements with regard to the sensitivity of the Interlok novel.

Palanivel said since a panel has been set up by the education ministry to study the Interlok novel used as a Form Five literature textbook, and consider the appropriate amendments, and submit its recommendations, issuing sensitive statements would only aggravate the situation.

The independent panel of eight people comprises linguists, academicians, literary experts and representatives from the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and the Indian community.

The novel, written by national laureate Abdullah Hussain, sparked controversy following the education ministry's decision to use it as a literature textbook as it allegedly contained text regarded as sensitive to the Indian community in the country.

Interlok has also become a focal point for protests and demonstrations as recent as last weekend when 59 Hindraf and Human Rights Party members were detained by police in four states - Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Perak and Kuala Lumpur.

Edited version coming

On Jan 27, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said Interlok would continue to be used as the literature component of the Bahasa Malaysia subject for Form Five students in Zone 2 covering Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

Speaking to reporters after attending the national MIC Youth supreme Council meeting today, Palanivel said: "So let the edited version come out. When the edited version comes out, I will look at it first... before making any statement."

He said the education ministry had already stopped the distribution of the novel to the respective states.

On the MIC Youth meeting, Palanivel said among the main issues discussed were preparations for the Merlimau, Kerdau by-elections, Sarawak state election and the 13th general election.

Nomination for Merlimau has been set for Feb 26 while polling is scheduled on March 6 but dates for the Kerdau by-election have not been set yet.

- Bernama