Close to a year since the controversy broke out, the government has announced that it will withdraw the novel Interlok from the secondary school syllabus.

MIC president G Palanivel said today that the government has decided to withdraw the controversial novel from the secondary school syllabus.

The decision was made at the last cabinet meeting, he added.

He said Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will make an official announcement soon.

"The decision was made after taking many factors into consideration. The Indian community is grateful for the decision," said Palanivel.

The novel has been a bone of contention among the members of the Indian community as the community claims that it contains offensive words and encourages stereotypes.

Interlok remained as the textbook for the literature component

of the Bahasa Malaysia subject for Form Five this year but with amendments to several aspects deemed sensitive by the Indian community.

NONE According to Bernama , Human Resource Minister Dr S Subramaniam  confirmed the cabinet's decision.

The MIC deputy president also hoped the withdrawal of the

novel, authored by national laureate Abdullah Hussain (middle in photo) , would be accepted by all quarters and end the controversy.

"The minister of education has agreed not to use this book from next year and I hope his announcement will prevent further acrimony over words deemed sensitive used in the novel," he was quoted as saying in Ayer Keroh today.