Why are the educated so stupid? Don't they know the word pariah is so offensive that it can cause violence in schools if it is used wrongly.......

Interlok offensive to Indians and it's okayKUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Youth Council (MYC) has concluded that the controversial novel “Interlok” used as a Bahasa Malaysia literature text in Form 5 is not offensive to other races.

However, it urged that serious attention be paid to the “teaching and learning process” of the novel to dispel any confusion arising from the interpretation of the book.

Said MYC president Mohamed Maliki Mohamed Rapiee: “There may be a need to list down a glossary or reference on the usage of words or phrases which the younger generation might not fully understand so that they can be explained in full.”

The council spent yesterday in a roundtable discussion deliberating on the book and its repercussions.

Members of the council who participated in the discussion included novelist Dr Fatimah Busu, Dean of Language, Literacy and Translation Centre of Universiti Sains Malaysia Prof Dr Ambigapathy Pandian and the Federation of National Writers’ Association president (Gapena) Mohamad Saleeh Rahamad.

Maliki said the panel concluded that the book “was an honest work” that encouraged “critical thinking” among its raeders.

Speaking to reporters, he said the panellists proposed that the issue be discussed from an “academic point of view”.

“We should not sensationalise the matter as this could create prejudice against other races. The MYC is confident that this is a more sensible approach,” he said.

Stop playing race cards

Maliki also said that the discussions chided individuals and politicians who resorted to playing the race cards to gain political mileage.

Meanwhile, Ambigapathy advised schools to appoint experienced teachers to teach Bahasa Malaysia literature.

“Experienced teachers who are able to fully comprehend the context of the novel should be the ones teaching the literature component of the Bahasa Malaysia subject,” he said.

Interlock, which is authored by national laureate Abdullah Hussein, is being used as a literature piece for Form 5 students this year.

It recently sparked outrage within the Indian community over the inclusion of derogatory words like “black people” and “pariah” to describe them.

According to another academician Chandra Muzaffar, the textbook was not demeaning or derogatory to the Indian community.

Chandra, who is the chairman of Yayasan 1Malaysia’s board of trustees, said the book tried to relate through fiction the challenges of the Indian community in interacting with the Malays and Chinese during the early 20th century.

He urged critics to view the use of the word “pariah” within the context of the larger themes that run through the book.

‘Racist’ principal in hot soup

Meanwhile, the controvery surrounding the Interlok novel took a new twist today when a secondary school principal in Selangor had allegedly referred to the Indian community as “pariahs” during a school assembly this morning.

The Malaysian Insider newsportal quoted SMK Taman Tasik Ampang headmistress Zaini Mohd Zin as admitting in using the word once during her speech but she had said that she was only quoting from the novel.

“I was explaining to the students about the importance of excelling in the history subject and it was then that I referred to the ‘Interlok’ novel.

“I quoted from the novel, mentioning that the reason why the Indians were unhappy with the book was because of the word. I do not even dare to repeat the word now,” she was quoted as saying by the newsportal.

Her speech had caused serious concerns among many parents who had accused her of being racist and for insulting the Indian community.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department SK Devamany was among the first to condemn Zaini over her remarks.

“Principals should stop harping on racial sentiments for their hidden interests or agenda,” he said in a statement.

He added that racial prejudice could be put aside if “we are not manipulated by narrow-minded and parochial thinking”.

The MIC leader also said he was disappointed with the principal for being insensitive despite a directive by the government to be careful with their words and not to utter racist remarks.

He said the education ministry must take appropriate action against principals or teachers who are guilty of racism.

FMT