Discourse on Interlok well attended, still no consensus

January 27, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 The discourse on the controversial novel, Interlok, organised by Koperasi Kedai Buku Universiti Malaya Berhad (KKUM) here today, was well attended by students, MIC members and others concerned.MIC Youth exco member Uthaya Sankar SB, who took part in the discussion together with representatives of the teaching profession, National Parent-Teacher Association (PIBGN) and Gapena, defended the partys stand to have the novel withdrawn as a Malay literature textbook for Form Five students.If the novel is to remain as a compulsory textbook, it must be made right. If you remove the word (pariah), it will not affect the content of the novel, he said.However, three other panellists comprising teacherss representative Abdul Ghalib Yunos, PIBGN president Assoc Prof Datuk Mohamad Ali Hasan and Gapena (Federation of National Writers Associations) secretary, Assoc Prof Datuk Zainal Abidin Borhan stated the novel should not be amended.Abdul Ghalib said the choice of the novel as a school textbook was appropriate as it instilled noble values that were in line with the 1 Malaysia concept.The novel tells of the realities of Malaysian society before independence and it contains a meaningful message, he said.Mohamad Ali, who agreed with Abdul Ghalibs views, said the novel also contained a lot of positive values that could motivate students, parents and the multiracial society at large.The two-hour discourse, which began at 2pm, was also attended by former president of Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Berhad (Angkasa) Prof Ungku Abdul Aziz and former director-general of education Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom. Bernama