I refer to the malaysiakini report Revising the revised 'ethnic relations' module .

I don't understand why the Ministry of Higher Education seems to be doggedly pursuing the publication of a textbook on ethnic relations. What is more surprising is that it has been able to rope in some senior academics to provide the book the necessary legitimation.

However, as pointed out, the textbook is again full of typographical and grammatical errors, despite the expert advice provided by one or two leading academics in the country. This goes to show, among other things, that nobody including the ministry takes the textbook seriously. It is another grandiose enterprise of Malaysia Boleh.

Malaysia is hardly a excellent model of ethnic relations to warrant the government to publish a textbook. In the usual Malaysian way, the beneficiaries of this ill-conceived enterprise will be those involved directly or indirectly.

Once the book is made compulsory in the public and private institutions of higher learning, just imagine who will be the direct and indirect beneficiaries of this capitalist enterprise.

This at the expense of the Malaysian society in general and poor students in particular who will have to endure not only the cost of the purchase, but also put up with the pseudo-intellectualism of this hurried output.