The MIC wants to view the amended version of the controversial literature novel “Interlok” before it is reprinted and distributed to the schools.
MIC president Datuk G. Palanivel said that this was the agreement made at the special independent panel set up to look into the issue earlier this year.
In a statement today, Palanivel said that he had spoken to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak after a local English daily on Tuesday reported complaints from teachers who had to paste the corrections manually on nine pages of the book.
Palanivel said he was informed by Najib that the Education Ministry will reprint the novel but stressed that MIC wants to look at the amended version before it is reprinted.
“We do not want another mess,” he said, referring to the flap over the final recommendations from the special independent panel to look into Interlok issue, which had disregarded many of the modifications recommended by the Indian community representatives.
Palanivel stressed that the Education Ministry cannot take the issue lightly.
“It is a serious matter to the Indian community and the ministry must show serious concern,” he said.
On Tuesday, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi was reported as saying the ministry would reprint the novel, which is used as the Form Five Bahasa Malaysia literature textbook, instead of asking teachers to manually paste corrections into the book.
Puad said the reprinted version would be edited to ensure the derogatory term "pariah" was deleted.
The cost of the reprinting and the distribution was about RM1 million and would involve recalling 390,000 copies that were already distributed to schools in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Negri Sembilan, he added.
Deputy MIC President Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, when met by reporters in Parliament, said the reprinted version should reflect the 19 major amendments pointed out by the special panel.
“In the previous meetings, we already agreed on all the areas that should be amended. We want the (education) ministry to follow what we have suggested so whatever they are going to (re)print should take into consideration of all that,” said Subramaniam, who is Human Resources Minister.
Interlok, a novel by national laureate Datuk Abdullah Hussain, sparked anger among the Indian community over its use of words deemed sensitive to them. Following complaints, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced on Jan 27 that the novel would remain but a panel would look into possible amendments.
Meanwhile another Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong told theSun that it was a “non issue.”
“The decision (to amend only certain content) was made during the committee (panel) meeting so we only will follow that decision. It’s a non-issue.
“They (MIC) are welcome to contact the director-general office. The amended copies will be available. If they want, they can take from us,” said Wee.
