The controversy over the novel Interlok has not been resolved today after MIC president G Palanivel met with the three ethnic Indian panellists who had withdrawn from the Interlok panel.
One of the panellists, Uthaya Shankar SB, denies that the trio have agreed to continue working towards resolving the issue.
The controversy over the novel Interlok has not been resolved today after MIC president G Palanivel met with the three ethnic Indian panellists who had withdrawn from the Interlok panel.
NONEPalanivel claimed that the trio had changed their minds and agreed to continue working towards resolving the issue, but this was denied by one of the panellists, Uthaya Shankar SB, who said that it was merely Palanivel's “personal opinion”.
In a statement today, Palanivel said that he had met two of the panellists together with the prime minister's special officer Ravin Ponniah.
“The Indian panel members have requested me to arrange a meeting exclusively with only Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the Education Minister.
“The panellists told me that they have identified all the sensitive portions in the book and would present them to Muhyiddin,” read the statement, adding that the Education Ministry should take their views seriously.
NONEPalanivel also said that the chapter on Maniam in the novel contains writings that hurt the sensitivities of the Indians and the the panellists were only putting forward the feelings of the Indian community.
Uthaya told Malaysiakini that the panellists did not request Palanivel to arrange a meeting with Muhyiddin.
“It was not discussed. We only presented our suggestions to amend the novel,” he said when contacted.
Therefore, he could not comment on the meeting with Muhyiddin as he had not been informed about it.
The writer, together with Prof NS Rajendran, director of the Aminuddin Baki Global Education Centre of the Tanjung Malim Educational University and former Education Ministry officer G Krishnabahawan, decided to quit the eight-member independent panel on Wednesday after attending a panel meeting.
'Modifications were rejected one-by-one'
The decision was taken because other members of the panel had changed their minds and rejected one-by-one the 100 modifications that had been recommended to render the book appropriate for Form Five students.
Muhyiddin later said the walkout was a “misunderstanding” and maintained that the trio were still in the panel.
“There was a misunderstanding yesterday... I was informed by Palanivel that he is now speaking (to the three members)... Palanivel has given his assurance that he will make sure that they will stay in the committee,” said the education minister.
Earlier today Uthaya told Malaysiakini that during the 30-minute meeting held today, he and Krishnabahawan merely explained to Palanivel about the panel meeting on Wednesday and the reason they quit.
“He understood and said he will release a statement to the media about this issue. I can't say anything on his behalf.”
He stressed that the meeting was not held for Palanivel to persuade them to return to the panel.
Uthaya also denied that the withdrawal was a “misunderstanding” as claimed by Muhyiddin.
“We were not contacted by anyone. If it is a misunderstanding, you can refer to my blog http://uthayasb.blogspot.com/2011/03/pembentangan-kepada-presiden-mic.html that reveals the content of the meeting (on Wednesday). This is not a misunderstanding.” - Malaysiakini |
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