A new pressure group is seeking to ensure that that the government review of school history syllabus would be a comprehensive overhaul of the subject to reflect an “objective and truthful” account of the past.

Dubbed the Campaign for a Truly Malaysian History and led by notable NGO figures and academics, the group seeks a “reformed, accurate and well-balanced” account in history textbooks for secondary schoold students by 2013.

NONE “The objectives are to push a thorough and comprehensive review and overhaul of the syllabus and existing textbooks,” said former World Bank economist Lim Teck Ghee ( right ), who also the movement’s spokesperson.

“The end result sought is the implementation of a new syllabus which provides a liberal and progressive approach to the teaching of world and Malaysian history.”

Lim explained that the group was born due to public concern over the government announcement that history has been made a compulsory passing subject for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) by 2013.

The sudden decision was made without public consultation, leading to discontent among parents and educationists who suspected that a political agenda was at play, said Lim.

“Another important catalyst (for the movement) has been the recent revelation by scholars of the many shortcomings in the history textbooks, including the Islamic and Malay-centric bias, factual errors, half-truths, value judgments and politically slanted content,” he said.

Gov’t panel viewed with suspicion

The watchdog panel is made up of 21 members consisting of parents, academics and representatives of non-governmental organisations.

NONE Among prominent panellists in the line-up are National Interlok Action Team (NIAT) chairperson Thasleem Mohamed Ibrahim Al-Haj ( right ), history textbook writer Dr Ranjit Singh Malhi, Sisters in Islam (SIS) founder Zainah Anwar and Universiti Malaya (UM) law lecturer Azmi Sharom.

“The activities will also include monitoring of the work of the government-appointed special history committee as well as submission to the government - at an appropriate time, our own reform recommendations that we have arrived at independently,” said Lim.

Lim said that history textbook should be free from political biases and raised doubts regarding the government’s panel to study the history curriculum and textbooks, appointed on May 3.

The government panel is headed by Malaysian Historical Society chairperson Omar Mohd Hashim and his deputy is Universiti Teknologi Mara administrative sciences and policity studies faculty dean Prof Ramlah Adam.

“There is a deep distrust in the government panel that has been set up, especially since the government panel has agreed to terms of reference that focuses on building up patriotism and unity rather than on ensuring truthful, objective and well-balanced history that is factual and not biased towards any community or religion,” said Lim.

To date the movement has collected 3,594 signatures in its online petition urging for a review of the history textbook.