Interlok panel wants offensive word removed
Jimadie Shah OthmanPublished: Mar 16, 2011 1:44 PM | Updated: Mar 17, 2011 1:09 PM
The independent panel established to review the novel ‘Interlok' has proposed that the word 'pariah' be removed from the book used in schools.
The independent panel established to review the novel ‘Interlok' has proposed that the word ‘pariah' be removed from the book used in schools.
A member of the panel, Tamil writer Uthaya Sankar SB (right), told Malaysiakini that the word should be removed because it is a factual error and not because it has been deemed 'sensitive' by some.
Uthaya explained that in the context of the novel, the offensive word which is used to denote a member of the lower caste cannot be used to described the character Maniam, who is well-to-do.
He said that the novel describes Maniam as owning several head of cattle and a house.
"In 1910 (the year in which the novel was set), it is impossible that someone from the pariah class could have such things," said Uthaya.
Uthaya said the proposal came about after the panel met three times. He said that the panel was able to discuss matters rationally.
"Thus far, we have only heard people claiming that the contents of the book are 'sensitive'. They are not looking at the matter rationally," said Uthaya, who once won a government literature award known as Hadiah Sastera Perdana.
He said the proposals took into consideration several aspects including language, facts and racial sensitivities.
Uthaya is the president of Kavyan Literature Group, the sole association for Tamil-language writers who write in Bahasa Malaysia.
Wider scrutiny
Uthaya said the panel has also proposed several amendments to references to the Malay and Chinese communities.
Among others, the panel studied the character Chin Huat, who was contemplating selling off his daughter due to financial hardship, and the character Musa, who was depicted as feeling happy for fooling a headmaster to allow his son to skip school.
"At first, we were only reviewing the book's depiction of Indians. But later, we looked at other aspects," he said.
He said the panel has submitted a 30-page report to Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. The report is expected to be discussed during the cabinet meeting on Friday.
Panel head Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, a lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, will hold a closed-door meeting with Muhyiddin in Parliament House this afternoon.
The novel is being used as a Malay literature textbook in Form 5.
A member of the panel, Tamil writer Uthaya Sankar SB (right), told Malaysiakini that the word should be removed because it is a factual error and not because it has been deemed 'sensitive' by some.Uthaya explained that in the context of the novel, the offensive word which is used to denote a member of the lower caste cannot be used to described the character Maniam, who is well-to-do.
He said that the novel describes Maniam as owning several head of cattle and a house.
"In 1910 (the year in which the novel was set), it is impossible that someone from the pariah class could have such things," said Uthaya.
Uthaya said the proposal came about after the panel met three times. He said that the panel was able to discuss matters rationally.
"Thus far, we have only heard people claiming that the contents of the book are 'sensitive'. They are not looking at the matter rationally," said Uthaya, who once won a government literature award known as Hadiah Sastera Perdana.
He said the proposals took into consideration several aspects including language, facts and racial sensitivities.
Uthaya is the president of Kavyan Literature Group, the sole association for Tamil-language writers who write in Bahasa Malaysia.
Wider scrutiny
Uthaya said the panel has also proposed several amendments to references to the Malay and Chinese communities.
Among others, the panel studied the character Chin Huat, who was contemplating selling off his daughter due to financial hardship, and the character Musa, who was depicted as feeling happy for fooling a headmaster to allow his son to skip school.
"At first, we were only reviewing the book's depiction of Indians. But later, we looked at other aspects," he said.
He said the panel has submitted a 30-page report to Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. The report is expected to be discussed during the cabinet meeting on Friday.
Panel head Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, a lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, will hold a closed-door meeting with Muhyiddin in Parliament House this afternoon.
The novel is being used as a Malay literature textbook in Form 5.
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