The National Interlok Action Team (Niat) has claimed that the controversial novel Interlok is against the teachings of Islam, so the directive making it a compulsory Malay literature text book for form five students should be withdrawn.

The novel is "against Islamic teachings and other religions as well. From an Islamic perspective, it is no good", the chair of Niat Thasleem Mohamed Ibrahim declared at a media conference held in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

It has not only offended the teachings of Islam but it has also failed to comply with the text book guidelines provided by the Ministry of Education,  he pointed out.

NONE The controversy surrounding the Interlok novel is no longer confined only to Indians.

"It involves the entire Malaysian community - the Malays, the Chinese and the Indians and the others,"  Thasleem (right) stressed.

He said: "I know for sure there are Malays and Chinese who are unhappy about the novel. I have the support of other Muslims and Malay NGOs as well."

Thasleem emphasised that the cause of the controversy is not the prime minister or the deputy prime minister. He put the blame on the Education Ministry's officers.

Getting serious about task

"The officers in the Ministry of Education are the culprits. Who is responsible for this? They must find out," he said.

Referring to the panel set up by the government to edit the novel, Thasleem said: "You edit it, there will be nothing left in the novel. Editing will mean insulting the writer."

As the panel goes about its business of finding a solution to the issue, Niat has made it its mission to campaign for the withdrawal of the novel.

The Niat chair detailed its action plan:

  • Between now and the end of March, Niat will submit a memorandum to the Agong;
  • Will hold meeting with the director general of the Education Ministry;
  • Will distribute to the public nationwide one million copies of its report on this issue;
  • Will lobby all members of Parliament;
  • Will meet academicians, Chinese and Malay NGOs, Muslim NGOs and other NGOs in Sabah and Sarawak; and
  • In addition, there will be nationwide road-shows.

Deadline delivered for action

If a solution is not found by month's end, Niat will internationalise the issue, institute legal action and hold peaceful rallies with approval.

On Feb 17, Thasleem had sent an open letter to the prime minister praying for the withdrawal of Interlok "as it is un-Islamic".

Thasleem said that he had not received any reply to the letter from the prime minister.

However, the prime minister's office had acknowledged the receipt of the 30-over-page report on the issue submitted to the prime minister last Tuesday, he added.