Malaysia's biggest Hindu umbrella group Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) has expressed outrage over the education ministry's decision to maintain the use of the contentious Interlok novel.
MHS president RS Mohan Shan said that MHS will continue to "fight" for the wirthdrawal of the book, which is being part of the upper secondary Malay literature syllabus.
He said that MHS will seek a meeting with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak soon to discuss the matter and hold a meeting with Indian NGOs this Saturday.
"The dialogue session will also discuss other serious issues faced by the Indian community and prepare a joint-memorandum to be submitted to the prime minister," said Mohan Shan in a statement today.
"Most of the teachers teaching Malay Literature are non-Indians and they will not be able to explain or substantiate the author's use of the derogatory words and some misleading statemens in the novel," he added.
Mohan Shan was commenting on the decision to maintain the use of the Interlok novel.
However, Muhyiddin also announced that an independent panel would be established to study the types of amendments and submit recommendations to the government.
"The decision to continue using the novel, with amendments so as not to hurt the feelings of the Indian community, is the best solution," Muhyiddin said in a statement.
'Gov't ignores Indians' sensitivities'
Meanwhile, MIC president G Palanivel said that the party had advised the ministry to make sure the book is not used in classrooms while it is being reviewed.
"The Education Ministry can introduce other suitable literature material," he stressed, adding that the ministry must appoint a group of independent panellists to carefully look into the edited material.
"This is so that no further dispute arises," Palanivel said in a statement.
Veteran community leader A Vaithilingam expressed his disappointment with the Education Ministry's decision to retain the problematic literature novel.
Vaithilingam, who is also the Coalition of Malaysian Indian NGOs (Comin) president, said that Muhyiddin's statement was "unexpected".
"The government has possibly been misled by some NGOs and advisors, and it has ignored the sensitivities of Indians," he said.
"No consideration was given in the noble effort of the prime minister to unify all communities in his 1Malaysia concept," said Vaithilingam.
In a SMS statement to Malaysiakini, he regretted that the Education Ministry disregarded national unity. However, he once again appealed to the government to reconsider the decision.
MHS president RS Mohan Shan said that MHS will continue to "fight" for the wirthdrawal of the book, which is being part of the upper secondary Malay literature syllabus.
He said that MHS will seek a meeting with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak soon to discuss the matter and hold a meeting with Indian NGOs this Saturday.
"The dialogue session will also discuss other serious issues faced by the Indian community and prepare a joint-memorandum to be submitted to the prime minister," said Mohan Shan in a statement today.
"Most of the teachers teaching Malay Literature are non-Indians and they will not be able to explain or substantiate the author's use of the derogatory words and some misleading statemens in the novel," he added.
Mohan Shan was commenting on the decision to maintain the use of the Interlok novel.
However, Muhyiddin also announced that an independent panel would be established to study the types of amendments and submit recommendations to the government.
"The decision to continue using the novel, with amendments so as not to hurt the feelings of the Indian community, is the best solution," Muhyiddin said in a statement.
'Gov't ignores Indians' sensitivities'
Meanwhile, MIC president G Palanivel said that the party had advised the ministry to make sure the book is not used in classrooms while it is being reviewed.
"The Education Ministry can introduce other suitable literature material," he stressed, adding that the ministry must appoint a group of independent panellists to carefully look into the edited material.
"This is so that no further dispute arises," Palanivel said in a statement.
Veteran community leader A Vaithilingam expressed his disappointment with the Education Ministry's decision to retain the problematic literature novel.
Vaithilingam, who is also the Coalition of Malaysian Indian NGOs (Comin) president, said that Muhyiddin's statement was "unexpected".
"The government has possibly been misled by some NGOs and advisors, and it has ignored the sensitivities of Indians," he said.
"No consideration was given in the noble effort of the prime minister to unify all communities in his 1Malaysia concept," said Vaithilingam.
In a SMS statement to Malaysiakini, he regretted that the Education Ministry disregarded national unity. However, he once again appealed to the government to reconsider the decision.
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