Interlok panellists missing wood for trees

Muhyiddin says while the big issue is close to being resolved, the Indian reps on the Interlok panel are fixated with the smaller ones.

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has downplayed the walkout staged by three Indian members on the independent panel, tasked with amending the controversial Interlok novel.

Speaking to reporters in Parliament, Muhyiddin, who is also the education minister, said MIC president G Palanivel was taking care of the matter.

“I was informed by Palanivel… and he has informed them that they must remain (on the panel). He will handle the three,” said the deputy prime minister.

It was reported that the three panellists were upset that Muhyiddin had rejected all the 100 amendments suggested.

However, Muhyiddin explained that the suggested amendments were “minute” and did not concern the main issue, which was the offensive terms.

“For example, they want the letter ‘T’ referring to ‘Tuhan’ to be changed to upper case. If (the amendments) have nothing to do with the main issue, then why bring it up?” he said.

No reason to revoke the ‘good’ novel
Muhyddin said that the main issue, which revolved around the word “pariah”, was close to being resolved but there were still certain details which needed to be ironed out.

“The main issue appears to have been solved, the pariah issue… but that will take some time,” he said, adding that there was no need to revoke the book.

“That question (revoking the book) does not arise; we need to just correct the contentious issues. To us there is no problem, the novel is a good novel,” he said.

Asked how long the panel would take to deliberate on the changes, Muhyddin said that it could take some time due to the sensitivity of the matter.

“We want to put a full stop to this (controversy),” he stressed.

Muhyddin also dismissed the opposition’s claim that the Interlok issue had caused the Indian community to lose faith in him.

Referring to DAP MP Charles Santiago, the deputy prime minister said: “He is not resolving the matter, he is merely stirring it up.”

When contacted, one of the three Indian panellist Uthaya Sankar SB said he heard media reports that Muhyiddin wanted to meet all three Indian panellists.

“However we haven’t received any invitations yet,” he said.