The Human Rights Party’s (HRP) application for a permit to carry out a peaceful march against the novel Interlok on Sunday has been rejected by the Dangi Wangi police.
The party on Feb 11 submitted its application to the police for a permit to hold a ‘People’s March in Solidarity Against Umno’s Racism’.
The gathering is to protest the education ministry’s decision to retain the use of the controversial novel Interlok, which critics argue portrays the Indian community in a negative light and therefore is not suitable for use as a school textbook.
HRP information chief S Jayathas told Malaysiakini that two uniformed police officers from the Dang Wangi station came to their office at noon today, with the rejection letter.
“The officers informed us that we still have another 24 hours to reapply for a permit, if we wanted to,” he said, adding that HRP would do so.
“We’ll fall back on Article 10 of constitution’
Nevertheless, Jayathas (right) said, the march would proceed as scheduled.
“We will go on with the peaceful march as Article 10 of the federal constitution guarantees Malaysians the right to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of association,” he added.
On Tuesday, the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) had requestedobservers from the United Nations (UN) to monitor its scheduled march and handed over a memorandum to the UN for its intervention in the Interlok issue.
The novel, by national laureate Abdullah Hussein, became controversial following the ministry’s decision to adopt it as the Malay literature textbook for Form Five, with several parties opposing on grounds it contains words deemed demeaning to Indian Malaysians.
Education Minister MuhyiddinYassin had announced on Jan 27 that the novel would remain as the textbook for Form Five, but with amendments to those parts deemed offensive by the Indian community.
There have been endless protests against Interlok nationally since then.
On Feb 13, police detained 59 people nationwide, travelling in Hindraf organised convoys, to attend forums on the book. There have been with allegations of rough treatment of those arrested by the police.
Jayathas said Unesco should also intervene in this issue as the book degraded the Indian and Chinese communities. He also said that the anti-Interlok forum tonight would go on as scheduled.
“Tonight, we hold the forum at the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, before the big finale on Sunday,” he added.
The ‘People’s March in Solidarity Against Umno’s Racism’ will kick off from the KLCC at 9am on Sunday and end at the Dang Wangi Police station.
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