'Interlok a classic work of Malaysian racism'

Commentary

In remarks for Malaysiakini (see below the M’kini article) following his open letter calling on the Government to withdraw Interlok as a literature school text, Dr Lim Teck Ghee expressed his dismay that the book with its racially tainted messages – both direct and indirect – could have been selected as a school text.

In fact, the literary merit of the novel is suspect. When Interlok was entered in the writing competition to commemorate the 10^thanniversary of Merdeka in 1967, it only won a consolation prize. Evidently the panel of judges did not think all that highly of Interlokthen.

Why did a book that failed to suitably impress the literati of its time proceed to enjoy political patronage later, he asked.
It is not unreasonable to deduce that the book’s publication in 1971 (the manuscript being revived after languishing four years in obscurity) was agenda driven. The political scenario at that time, that is, the 1969 race riots and the introduction of the NEP in the following year, was rapidly evolving and veering to an outright Malay nationalism.

Dr Lim said the decision – made only last year – to include ‘Interlok’ in the reading list, is equally suspect as the 40-year-old book had in the interim not gotten any rave reviews from either the reading public or the writing fraternity.

In today’s terms, Abdullah Hussain would be deemed guilty of offensive stereotyping aimed at the minority communities whilst celebrating the virtues of the Malay race, culture and value system. Some quarters, in fact, see it as the classic Malaysian racist book, said Dr Lim.

He emphasised that nobody was calling for the book to be banned in the same way in which the Government has banned so many other books. However, it should not be in the prescribed literature curriculum and certainly not let loose on young and impressionistic minds.

More emphatically, it should be not made an exam text where students are liable to be coerced into giving an “officially correct” interpretation in their answer papers, and whose correctness is determined by the authorities marking the test.
Although some liberals may be tempted to invoke the concept of freedom of expression, Dr Lim countered that the same “freedom to offend” would not be granted if the offence was against the majority race.

He expressed concern at the prospect of racially biased literature teachers, mainly coming from one community and teaching the novel and its racially slanted messages. In his view, this would poison young minds and bring unintended harmful consequences to race relations in the country.

Dr Lim further described the selection of the special panel to review the book and remove its offensive bits as a politically motivated strategy which should have been rejected. He was surprised that the panel members would agree to have their hands tied right at the start and work only to deal with the so-called offensive parts.

The transparency of the exercise was suspect, he added, when previously the government had succumbed to the Malay pressure groups, citing the example of how the New Economic Model (NEM) mooted by the prime minister was held hostage by Perkasa.

Last month, an ultimatum had been issued by Federation of National Writers Association (Gapena) whose executive secretary Abdul Aziz Mohd Ali said that the only acceptable change that could be made to the novel was to add a glossary for the word ‘pariah’.

In Dr Lim’s view, it was not paragraphs or sections of the book that were at question although there were innumerable instances of racial stereotyping, historical errors and misrepresentation of Chinese and Indian culture and society.

Instead it was the sum total of the book that needed to be rejected. Although the rejection of the book on grounds of its unsuitability as a school text was not part of the terms of reference, he hoped that the review panel would have the courage to arrive at this decision in view of the overwhelming evidence presented on the racially offensive overall thrust of the book.

Whatever the outcome of the review process, he challenged Cabinet members to personally read the book – or translation of the book – and decide for themselves whether they would permit their own children to be exposed to it.

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'Interlok a classic work of Malaysian racism'

Feb 24, 2011

Malaysiakini

Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI) director Lim Teck Ghee has added his voice to calls for the novel Interlok to be removed from the Form Five Malay literature syllabus due to its perpetuation of “offensive stereotyping” of minorities.

This, while the controversial novel celebrates the virtues of the Malay race, culture and value system.

As such, Lim noted, it has led some quarters to see the novel as “the classic Malaysian racist book”.

In remarks e-mailed to Malaysiakini today, the former academician-turned-social activist said some may be tempted to invoke freedom of expression to justify maintaining the book as required reading in secondary schools.

That same “freedom to offend” would not, however, be granted if the offence were against Malays, he noted.

There is concern, furthermore, with the prospect of predominantly Malay literature teachers teaching students the novel and its racially-slanted messages.

While anger has been expressed mainly by Indian groups and politicians against the negative portrayal of the community in the novel - including the use of the term 'pariah' - ire has also been raised on the perpetuation of stereotypes relating to ethnic Chinese.

Stressing against the call for the book to be banned “in the same way in which the government has banned so many other books”, Lim said Interlok should not be in the prescribed literature curriculum and “certainly not let loose on young and impressionistic minds”.

It should be not made an exam text, furthermore, whereby students are liable to be coerced into giving the “officially correct” reading of the novel in their answer papers, and whose correctness is determined by the authorities marking the exam papers.

"This will poison young minds and bring unintended harmful consequences to race relations in the country,” he said.

Lim also questioned why the novel was now being made compulsory and enjoying "political patronage" when it had failed to impress the literati when it was first published in 1971 - four years after the manuscript had languished in obscurity, claimed Lim.

“It is not unreasonable to deduce that the book's publication in 1971 was agenda-driven. The political scenario at that time, that is, the 1969 race riots and the introduction of the NEP in the following year, was rapidly evolving and veering to outright Malay nationalism.

"The decision – made only last year – to include Interlok in the reading list, is equally suspect as the 40-year-old book had in the past not got any rave reviews from either the reading public or the writing fraternity,” he added.

Expressing surprise that members of the government panel tasked with reviewing the book for its “offensive bits” had agreed to working under such a limited scope, Lim said the transparency of the exercise was suspect, given that the government had reportedly succumbed to Malay pressure groups in other issues.

"It was not paragraphs or sections of the book that were in question, although there were innumerable instances of racial stereotyping, historical errors and misrepresentation of Chinese and Indian culture and society.

“Instead, it is the sum total of the book that needs to be rejected," he added.

Although the rejection of the book on grounds of its unsuitability as a school textbook is not part of the terms of reference, he hoped the review panel would have the courage to arrive at this decision in view of the overwhelming evidence presented on the racially offensive overall thrust of the book.

Whatever the outcome of the review process, Lim challenged cabinet members to read the book – or the translation of the book – and “decide for themselves whether they would permit their own children to be exposed to it.”

More against 'Interlok'

The Chinese Assembly Hall Youth also lent their weight against the novel.

Besides reinforcing the stereotype of Chinese and Indians as outsiders and immigrants, and the Chinese as deceitful and greedy, the novel also unconsciously promotes the idea of Malay supremacy, said chairperson of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth, Ng Chong Soon(left).

Although this might destroy relations between the ethnic communities in the country, this "is exactly what a race-based political party like Umno would need to serve its political agenda", said Ng in a statement.

While freedom of expression should be respected,he added that narrow political interests should be kept out of education.

Echoing Lim's comments, he also said the novel is rich in racial discrimination and factual errors.

"For example, the Chinese Anti-Japanese Army was depicted as wanting to build a small China in Malaya. And Indians were described as thinking that the Indian government takes better care of the Indians compared to Malaya's government."

The Ministry of Education should not have amended the school syllabus and selected 'Interlok' as a compulsory textbook unless it is treated as an example of racial discrimination, Ng stressed.

Meanwhile, The Human Rights Party's (HRP) will hold an 'anti-Interlok' forum at the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall tonight, while the 'People's march in solidarity against Umno's racism' is set for Sunday.

'Interlok', written by national laureate Abdullah Hussein, became controversial when it was selected as a Malay literature textbook for Form Five.

Several parties then opposed it on grounds it contains words and incidents deemed demeaning to Indian Malaysians.

Education Minister MuhyiddinYassin had announced on Jan 27 that the novel would remain as a textbook for Form Five, but with amendments to parts deemed offensive by the Indian community. -cpi