The Education Ministry has been slammed over its negligence in the selection of a suitable literature textbook for students, which has ignited tensions among races.
Referring to the novel Interlok which was caught in the middle of a storm following protest over the usage of deragatory terms against the Indian community, PAS vice president Salahuddin Ayub said the ministry must take the blame for being careless in its selection.
“If the ministry were wise enough to make a decision, none of these will happen,” he said.
As a compromise, the minister Muhyiddin Yassin had earlier announced that 19 parts considered offensive to the Indian community, including the term “pariah”, would be removed or substituted with more politically-correct terms.
'Amendment not the way'
Salahuddin however questioned the selection of Interlok when there are other works.
“There are many other novels on unity written by our laureates which are qualified to be used as textbooks," he said in Parliament yesterday.
Salahuddin, who is the Kubang Kerian member of parliament, however stressed that the ministry should not make amendments to the work of a writer as it amounted to disrespect.
“I believe in the work produced by our national laureates, and everyone has the right to defend it," he added, and said nobody had the right to make changes to one's writing.
"According to knowledge discipline, if we don’t agree with a writing, select a different book. (We should not) remove words that will affect the credibility of the national laureates,” said Salahuddin.
- Harakahdaily
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