The contentious book on ethnic relations penned by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) academics will be withdrawn, revealed Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today.

The prime minister said the matter was discussed at the cabinet meeting today and a new book will be authored.

"The (higher education) ministry wants to replace the book with another book and the cabinet agreed.

"I think that's an apt move because the first book appears to be so controversial," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

The initial book had drawn flak for, among others, blaming opposition party DAP for the May 13, 1969 racial riots and the anti-social attitude of Indian youths as a contributing factor for the 2001 Kg Medan incident.

It had also labelled Chinese lobby group Suqiu's call for a non-discriminative affirmative action policy as being 'extremist'.

Experts and concerned groups warned that the book would burn rather than build bridges among the various communities.

Cannot change history

Meanwhile, Abdullah said inserting controversial issues into a textbook is not appropriate as history cannot be changed.

"I've opined that historical facts cannot be changed but the interpretation of history is important, how we interpret the historical facts and analyse all that," he said.

He said racial issues were still sensitive to the people although the country had achieved independence for close to 50 years.

"We're still at the stage of checking (the racial problem), to bring all the races in Malaysia to look at themselves as one united race that wants development and peace as well as comfortable racial relations," he said.

Abdullah said a race should not be accused just because a group from that race had done something undesirable.

He also said that the new book on the ethnic relations subject will be scrutinised by a group of experts.

Higher Education Minister Mustapa Mohamed had come under intense criticism over the past few days for defending the book.

The minister had argued that the contents were based on historical facts whereas certain opposition leaders dismissed them as 'historical lies and seditious'.

Critics have also labelled the book as a distortion of history.

Yesterday, Mustapa was grilled in Parliament over the matter. He claimed that the book was merely a guideline.

Previously, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz had also described the contents of the book as being seditious.

The minister also urged those who were unhappy with the matter to file a police report.