Interlok’ issue: MIC man dismisses charges he compromised on stand

(Bernama) -MIC deputy president Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam today dismissed allegations he had compromised on his stand that the “Interlok” novel should be withdrawn as a textbook for Form Five students.

“In all my discussions at the last few Cabinet meetings I strongly represented the views of the Indian community, and the impact the book would have on the minds of the community and young people,” he said in a statement.

Subramaniam, who is the human resource minister, said he had repeatedly reiterated at the weekly Cabinet meetings the Indian community’s stand that the novel must not be used as a literature textbook.

“There is absolutely no truth to the allegations and the rumours that have been spread on the matter,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had said yesterday that he had a formula to resolve the issue over the novel and would hold discussions with MIC leaders on the matter soon.

Malaysian Indians have protested against the use of the novel, written by National Laureate Datuk Abdullah Hussain, as a component of Malay literature in Form Five, arguing that the book contained inaccurate and disparaging remarks about the Indian community. — Bernama