A high level of dissatisfaction among the Indian community of late, especially now over the Form 5 Malay literature textbook Interlok , has brought several Indian political parties and NGOs to press the government for a special panel to review and solve their problems.

Federal Territory People's Progressive Party (PPP) chairperson A Chandrakumanan wants the government to create a special Indian-based community panel to deal with problems that are faced by the community, particularly in education.

"Just like the Chinese community, MCA has an association for the Chinese community. We should have the same as well... it will help solve the problems of the Indian community and take care of their interests," he told a press conference at the party's service centre in Kuala Lumpur today.

ppp interlok chandrakumanan 060111 Chandrakumanan ( left ) said it was vital to know who proofreads school textbooks to determine whether they are appropriate for students.

"The authorities must be sensitive to everyone. We must consider whether or not the contents of textbooks apply to us today. Are there any benefits for the future? Does it affect anyone? We are all from different races... all this must be taken into consideration," he said.

Asked to comment on Makkal Sakhti's plan to burn copies of Interlok in Tenang on the by-election day, Jan 30, Chandrakumanan said protests and the like were not the right way to solve a problem.

"Burning books and what not are done by the opposition, not by us," he said, adding that he is confident Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak would do his job.

"Remove chapter on Indians from book'

Also present at the press conference was Malaysian Indian Progressive Association president Raja Retinam, who demanded that the chapter in the textbook on the Indian community be removed.

"Do not edit or delete anything. Just pull out the chapter on Indians altogether," he said.

Raja also said he received an SMS from MIC deputy president Dr S Subramaniam, who informed him that a positive outcome could be expected over the community's complaint against Interlok , based on "a long cabinet meeting yesterday".

However, he did not have details of the "long cabinet meeting". Subramaniam, who is also human resources minister, could not be reached for comment.

NONE Also today, the Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party handed a memorandum to the Education Ministry, urging the minister Muhyiddin Yassin to set up a panel of experts to review all school history and literature textbooks.

The memorandum was handed over by Makkal Sakti president R Kannan and its acting president A Vathemorthy to the minister's personal secretary, Khairul Anuar Bachok, in Putrajaya.

"The memorandum urges the ministry to create a three-member panel - comprising a Malay, a Chinese and an Indian - to review each and every book that is intended to be used in schools, especially those relating to literature and history," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Kannan said Interlok is more of a novel, not a literature book.

Written by national laureate Abdullah Hussain, Interlok is based on integration of the Malays, Chinese and Indians from the early 1900s up to Independence.

"The book shouldn't be used as a literature text in school because it is not relevant at a time like this," he said, adding that Interlok is inappropriate as a school textbook because it does not capture the right situation (history).

"Everyone is well aware that Interlok is an old book (44 years old), but it was used in universities. So, why start using it as a literature book in secondary schools now?" Kannan asked.

Asked what action would be taken if the textbook was not withdrawn, Kannan said Makkal Sakti and other Indian NGOs would gather in Tenang on the by-election day to burn the book.

"We will all team-up in Tenang on Jan 30 to burn the book beramai-ramai (all together)," he said.

Education ministry task force to review use of book

Ten Makkal Sakti members and another 10 supporters were also present during the handing over of the memorandum.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin, who is also deputy prime minister, has instructed the education ministry's Special Task Force to review the use of Interlok as Form 5 literature material.

Bernama quoted Deputy Education Minister Puad Zarkashi as saying that a serious review of the textbook was needed so as to ensure it did not raise problems that could threaten racial harmony in the country.

"Muhyiddin hopes the review will bring about a positive outcome for all parties concerned," Puad told reporters after opening the annual general meeting of the parent-teacher association of Sekolah Kebangsaan Gali in Raub, Pahang, today.

The issue surfaced at the end of last year when Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department T Murugiah registered his protest over the content on Indians in Interlok after his ministry discussed the novel with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.