MIC lips sealed over the Interlok issue

The National Interlok Action Team wants to know why the MIC is so silent over the issue that has affected the Indian community.

KUALA LUMPUR: National Interlok Action Team (NIAT) chief Thasleem Mohd Ibrahim is wondering why the MIC is so silent over an issue that is close to the Indian community – the Interlok novel.

Thasleem said MIC president G Palanivel once wanted the education ministry to withdraw the textbook from school syllabus, but now he has not uttered a word about the issue.

He questioned why the MIC is still staying silent after Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has shown his reluctance to withdraw the novel from the syllabus.
Thasleem said MIC should make a stand on the Interlok issue, adding that Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, was using the Interlok for his own ends.

“Muhyiddin has his own ambition as he wants to be the next prime minister. So, he is using Interlok to champion the Malays and at the same time make Najib look bad in the eyes of the Indian community,” he said.

The Interlok novel became controversial after Indian groups, including MIC, claimed that the author had portrayed the community in a negative light, especially with the use of the term “pariah”.
Following this, the education ministry agreed to amend the book, and an eight-member panel was set up to make recommendations.

Recently, FMT received several complaints that the Gombak education district had used the “un-edited” Interlok book during the mid-term examination despite the assurance from Muhyiddin that the novel would not be used until amendments were made.