Interlok and Perkasa’s weird logic’
The DAP calls Perkasa's objection in removing the Interlok novel from schools as 'weird logic'
GEORGE TOWN: The DAP said that they could not understand Perkasa’s weird logic in going against the decision to remove the controversial Interlok novel from schools.
Its national chairman Karpal Singh said it was the Cabinet’s responsibility to ‘correct all wrongs’ in its system of governance that affects the people.
“It’s wrong for an extremist organisation like Perkasa to criticise the government decision to remove the Interlok novel.
“Indeed the book should be banned altogether across the country,” he told reporters in Air Itam here today.He also called on the novel’s author, national laureate Abdullah Hussain to apologise to all Malaysian Indians for the racially insensitive contents in the book.
In a SMS statement last night, Perkasa secretary-general Syed Hasan Syed Ali said the group was very angry with MIC president G Palanivel over the withdrawal of the Form 5 literature text.
He expressed Perkasa’s disappointment and regrets over the government decision.
“The government is too weak and has failed to withstand pressure from a minority group that is big headed. Perkasa is aware of MIC’s need to bank on the Indian vote for the GE13.
“This is very insolent. Because of the Indian vote, the dignity of a Malay writer is being insulted,” said Syed Hassan.
Karpal called Syed Hassan’s views as “weird logic “
The Bukit Gelugor MP instead called on for a total ban on the novel for it contained racial slurs insulting the Indian community.
“The novel should be removed from all libraries and book stores.It should be banished from public view,” insisted Karpal.
The novel was made compulsory reading for Form Five students this year as part of the Malay Literature subject in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan and Putrajaya.
The novel chronicled the daily lives and struggles of three families – a Malay, Chinese and Indian during pre-independence Malaya and their contributions to the formation of the country.
But the novel sparked an outrage, especially from Indians, against several racially offensive words such as ‘India Pariah’, ‘Melayu Malas’, ‘Cina Kuai’, ‘perempuan totok’, ‘babi’ and ‘syaitan putih’.
The book was also criticised for portraying unhealthy elements such as pre-marital cohabitation, infidelity, spirit worship, trading in humans.
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