Is This History or His Story?

By Masterwordsmith

Many historians would probably not only have turned in their graves, but would have miraculously risen from the dead had they read Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's statement here that said Malaysian history as currently taught in schools was inaccurate. The rationale he gave was that "it failed to provide proper context of the country’s fight for independence".

Having worked hard to achieve an A1 for my History @ MCE level, I feel deeply shocked that the former PM said:

“Many from the younger generation do not understand history and the origin of the nation, as there were attempts to alter historical facts into fantasy.”

What???

Born on 10th July 1925, TDM was Malaysia's longest serving Prime Minister having served 22 years from 1981 to 2003. With a political career that spanned almost 40 years, he never said anything about this, especially since he was Minister of Education from 1974-1978. If he truly has the welfare of the nation and the perspective of the 'younger generation' at heart, why did he keep quiet when he had the political platform to do it then? Why is he making such a serious allegation that puts many into a quandary with regards to their credibility and expertise after EIGHT YEARS of retirement? Did he only JUST see the 'light'? Why now?

Is TDM thus questioning the effectiveness of the Ministry of Education and all the past Ministers of Education including:

TDM himself who was Minister of Education 1974-1978 (Read this)
Y.B. Tan Sri Musa Bin Hitam (1978-1981)
Y.B. Tan Sri Amar Dr.Sulaiman Bin Hj.Daud (1981-1984)
Y.A.B. Dato Seri Abdullah Bin Hj.Ahmad Badawi (1984-1986)
Y.B. Dato' Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim (1986-1991)
Y.B. Tan Sri Amar Dr.Sulaiman Bin Hj.Daud (1991-1995)
Y.A.B Dato' Sri Mohd. Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak (1995-1999)
Y.B. Tan Sri Dato' Seri Musa Bin Mohammad (1999-2004)
Y.B. Dato' Sri Hishamuddin bin Tun Hussein (2004-2009)
Y.A.B Tan Sri Dato' Haji Muhyiddin bin Mohd Yassin (2009 - kini) (Source: This site)

With his latest outburst, he has practically rewritten history that we have learnt. It is His Story!

Does this mean famous historians, textbook writers, history majors in universities, teaching staff at universities/schools/colleges and higher institutions of learning including students, graduates etc have to UNLEARN everything that they have learnt/written or studied because this 'fantasy' was only highlighted NOW?

And it has taken Dr Mahathir THIRTY-SEVEN YEARS to highlight this 'fantasy' issue.

Who is the one living in a world of 'fantasy' all this while?

The Malaysian Insider report also stated that "National Professors’ Council (MPN) has taken the debate further by claiming that Malaya, the precursor to Malaysia, was never colonised by the British Empire and had merely been a protectorate."

The report also stated that Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Khaled Nordin said the current History syllabus in schools was in need of review. Why?

According to TDM, “The government needs to focus on what really transpired so that writings on the country's history would not be influenced by current political interests... History is all about what had happened, and we cannot change that... whatever happened in the past, had happened."

By that measure, is he questioning the credibility and veracity of the works of Frank Swettenham,Joginder Singh Jessy, DJ Tate, D.G.E. Hall and other notable historians who have written history books which have been the syllabus for Malaysian schools for decades?

The fact that the years after the Japanese surrendered, the British Military administration ruled Malaya proves that it was a British and not Malayan government. Whose face is on the following stamp? I rest my case.

So what is it that really needs to be changed? Change is IMPERATIVE! Let's make it happen at the next GE!!