It is most significant to note that a forthcoming book ' A History of Indians in Malaysia: From the Melaka Sultanate to Hindraf’ is being considered as a ideal antidote to the controversy over the book Interlok.

Indeed, it is even more significant, meaningful and timely that a work of this nature should be forthcoming with the courageous announcement of the deputy prime minister that Indian plantation workers are due for an upward wage review and for a general improvement in their standards of living.

It is submitted therefore that the contention of Netto, that the new book, in analysing the impact of theories of race would be ‘an ideal antidote' implies that the Interlock controversy should best be seen in the context of the continuing legacy of colonialism, inherited by the government since independence and continued to the present day.        

Consequently in seeking to follow-up on his announcement the deputy prime minister would consequently need to rely on the Interlok Panel to widen the scope of deliberations to include the race relations perspective as well.

With the greatest of respect this is a highly specialised area where very few Malaysians have the expertise, and the best that can be done is to resort to research-based publications that have received international recognition. But even here the two seminal works by Kernial Singh and Sinappah Arasaratnam have been generally regarded as atheoretical

Unfortunately the new book in question will only be available around August and this would not be helpful. Nonetheless, when published it should certainly contribute to the on-going debate considering that one of the author's books is titled ‘The Development of Political Consciousness in Malaya’.