The Interlok issue is still burning hot among the Indians but the amazing thing is that MIC has not voiced out their objections on this matter, accused Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians.
DAP MP for Teluk Intan M Manogaran raised the Interlok issue for debate in the august House today, but it was rejected by the Speaker on the basis that although it was specific and of public interest, it was not urgent.
DAP MP for Teluk Intan M Manogaran raised the Interlok issue for debate in the august House today, but it was rejected by the Speaker on the basis that although it was specific and of public interest, it was not urgent.
At a press conference in the Parliament lobby, Pakatan leaders Sim Tong Hin, Charles Santiago, M Manogaran and Nizar Jamaluddin expressed disappointment at the Speaker's high-handedness.
They also slammed the MIC for remaining silent and not appealing to the Speaker for the subject to be raised.
Referring to the recent Kuala Kubu Baru incident where 3 students were questioned for 10 hours at a police station for returning the Interlok novel to the school principal, they accused the MIC of being under Umno's thumb.
According to them, MIC MP for Hulu Selangor P Kamalanathan even instructed the students to apologise to the school principal instead of demanding an apology from the principal and the police.
"I am really surprised that the MIC MP could resort to such a move. Where is his voice in this matter?" Manogaran told Malaysia Chronicle.
"I am really surprised that the MIC MP could resort to such a move. Where is his voice in this matter?" Manogaran told Malaysia Chronicle.
Support undeserved
The novel, while telling a story of a past era in the 1920s, contains a reference to the Indians as "pariah". It has riled the community but despite the animosity, Prime Minister Najib Razak has refused to order the book be dropped from schools' reading lists.
Nizar, the PAS MP for Bukit Gantang, told Malaysia Chronicle that there are other more suitable books that could be used as Literature text and suggested 'Ranjau Sepanjang Jalan'. According to him, this book was used in schools in the olden days right up to the late 1980s.
Nizar also questioned the motive of the Education Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in allowing this book to be used as Form 5 Literature text, when students' minds were still impressionable.
"This issue has dragged on long enough. The government keeps saying that a panel has been set up to look into it each time this topic is being brought up and they have been giving that answer since the dawn of time, but till now, there has been no concrete solution. It is always the same old answer: 'a panel has been set up to look into it'," lambasted Nizar.
"It is amazing that MIC has allowed UMNO to bully them into silence, acquiescence and obscurity. MIC always proclaims that they are the only ones who can champion the cause of the Indians but their silence shows otherwise. Have MIC washed their hands off this matter? Is MIC so fearful and so subservient to UMNO that they let UMNO treat them in such a way?"
As the book also portrays the Chinese in a bad light, the Pakatan leaders also asked where was the MCA?
Nizar also questioned the motive of the Education Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in allowing this book to be used as Form 5 Literature text, when students' minds were still impressionable.
"This issue has dragged on long enough. The government keeps saying that a panel has been set up to look into it each time this topic is being brought up and they have been giving that answer since the dawn of time, but till now, there has been no concrete solution. It is always the same old answer: 'a panel has been set up to look into it'," lambasted Nizar.
"It is amazing that MIC has allowed UMNO to bully them into silence, acquiescence and obscurity. MIC always proclaims that they are the only ones who can champion the cause of the Indians but their silence shows otherwise. Have MIC washed their hands off this matter? Is MIC so fearful and so subservient to UMNO that they let UMNO treat them in such a way?"
As the book also portrays the Chinese in a bad light, the Pakatan leaders also asked where was the MCA?
The Pakatan leaders also said it was poignant to note that the Indian vote started to return to BN at the point of the Hulu Selangor by-election when the community gave strong support to Kamalanathan, yet this was how he and the MIC repaid them.
by Selena Tay
Malaysia Chronicle
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