Parliamentarians from both divides were annoyed today over the way Higher Education Minister Mustapa Mohamed defended an offensive textbook on ethnic relations used in a local university during a fiery debate in the House.

The minister had a hard time answering MPs during the one-hour debate after the House earlier today approved an opposition's emergency motion tabled by Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Bandar Kuching) over the textbook which the MPs argued as a distortion of history.

The book, used in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), has ruffled feathers for, among others, referring to the call for a non-discriminatory affirmative action policy by the Malaysian Chinese Election Appeals Committee (Suqiu) as 'extremist'.

It also blamed Indian youths as a contributing factor to the infamous Kampung Medan clash in 2001, the opposition DAP for the May 13, 1969 racial riots and claimed that the 'Federal Constitution prohibits the propagating of any other religion except Islam to non-Muslims'.

Inciting racial hatred

Debating the motion, Chieng Jen said while he supported the move to introduce the ethnic relations subject in local universities, the textbook used in UPM however was erroneous and misled students.

Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) questioned why there was a selective presentation of history in the book.

"Why is it that the book did not mention Umno Youth's threat to burn down the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (during the height of Suqiu) but merely labelling Suqiu as extremist? Isn't this is aggravating racial polarisation?" said the infuriated Lim.

Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) said the book only incited racial hatred.

Backbencher Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Itam) also took offence with the use of words such as 'Malay supremacy' in the book arguing that it implies the majority can rule over the minorities in the country.

"The authors of the book don't know that cabinet works under collective responsibility," he said. Wee also questioned why the book failed to highlight the contribution of the Indian community in the development of the country.

He asked for the book to be withdrawn and that the authors must comprise all ethnic groups.

Umno backbenchers who took part in the debate were also upset with the book, but for different reasons.

"Why is there only one page in the book on the struggle of Umno? The struggle of Umno is more than that," said Razali Ibrahim (BN-Muar), who advised the critics not to be 'dissatisfied' and deny the 'historic facts' contained in the book.

Badaruddin Amiruldin (BN-Jerai) said he defended the views expressed by the authors - both of whom are UPM lecturers - as he said the 'history' should serve as a lesson for future generations. He demanded that the DAP withdraw the emergency motion.

Only a reference book

Mustapa, in his winding-up, vehemently defended the authors' "analysis and interpretation" on the issues, but conceded that there was a typing error in relation to the claim that the constitution prohibits the preaching of other religions except Islam to non-Muslims.

The minister insisted the references in the book to Suqiu as 'extremist', the May 13 riots was due to the DAP upsetting the Malays and the blame on Indian youths in the Kampung Medan incidents as 'historical facts'.

Mustapa argued:

  • Suqiu demands were extreme as they had questioned the position of Islam as the official religion and that it questioned bumiputera rights. Suqiu had withdrawn seven of its demands.

  • The DAP's participation in the procession that triggered the May 13 riots was a "widely known fact" and that the book referred DAP as 'one of the opposition parties' that caused the riots.

  • The blame on Indian youths for causing the Kampung Medan incident was according to a seminar paper written by Dr Denison Jayasooria, the executive director of the MIC-linked Yayasan Strategik Sosial.

Mustapa also noted the book was only a reference book prepared by the UPM lecturers themselves based on the guideline drawn up by a committee in the ministry. He said a standardised version of the book would be published soon for all universities.

The winding-up by Mustapa was disrupted repeatedly by MPs from both the opposition and BN.

An irritated SK Devamany (BN-Cameron Highlands) yelled across the floor: "The Kampung Medan incident was not caused by Indians. That's a wrong fact. It is merely a personal view (by Denison), how can it be cited as fact?"

As Mustapa insisted that it was 'subject to interpretation', Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) protested and said: "The one paragraph (from Denison's paper) was just taken out of context, you can't just take one quote (and assume it is fact)."

While the minister was explaining why Suqiu is deemed as extremist and had caused tension at the time, Lim rebutted: "What tension? BN had endorsed the appeals in principle prior to the 1999 general election. This is tantamount to misleading the House."

Towards the end of the winding-up, Chieng Jen questioned why the book was distributed to students before it was properly edited, as argued by Mustapa.

To this, the minister answered: "If the students disagree with the contents, they can debate with their lecturer in class."

'It's academic freedom'

Chor Chee Heung (BN-Alor Setar), who failed to seek clarification several times from Mustapa, told reporters at the Parliament lobby later that the minister's reply was "evading the real issues and totally lame ".

"I am very dissatisfied with his (Mustapa) performance today," said an annoyed Chor.

Expressing the same sentiment, MIC secretary-general and Housing and Local Government parliamentary secretary Dr S Subramaniam told reporters at the same venue that he was very disappointed with the erroneous book.

At a press conference later, Mustapa was again bombarded with questions from the media. He however insisted that there was nothing wrong with the book and blamed the DAP for playing up the issue although he was told that backbenchers were also upset over it.

Pointing out that other universities textbook on the subject has not drawn any controversy, Mustapa rebutted: "The authors (lecturers) are free to write, we are talking about academic freedom, you know?"

He said there will be no change to the current UPM book - except the typing error in relation to the Federal Constitution - pending the publication of a new standardised textbook by the ministry.

It was however unclear whether the offensive elements will be withdrawn from the new book.

Devamany also approached the minister at the end of the press conference and told the minister to correct the wrong facts over the Kampung Medan incident.