The Malay novel by laureate, Datuk Abdullah Hussain, was written over 40 years ago and became the subject of controversy after a Selangor school head, who quoted from the book during assembly last month, was accused of racism.
“Interlok” is set in the early 1900s and recounts the country’s history from the point of view of three male protagonists — Seman, a Malay; Chin Huat, a Chinese; and Maniam, an Indian.
Several political parties and non-governmental groups claim the word “pariah”, as used in the book, is derogatory and demeaning to the ethnic Indian community who are mostly Tamil.
They want it banned on those grounds.
