The Education Ministry has assured that the Year Six History textbook directed to be reprinted will be ready by the next school session.

Its minister Mahdzir Khalid said the reprinting of the textbook was expected to be completed by the first or second week of January next year.

"We do not view finding an error on the map of peninsular Malaysia, a small mistake and that's why we have directed the textbook to be reprinted," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after launching the convocation ceremony for the graduates of the 2015 International Diploma in Physical Education and Sports Coaching (DAPJKS) at the Kuala Lumpur City Hall Training Institute in Kuala Lumpur today.

A total of 948 graduates received their DAPJKS diplomas from the United States Sports Academy, Malaysia (USSA-Malaysia). In conjunction with the event, a book entitled 'Healthy Lifestyle' USSA-Malaysia publication in collaboration with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka was launched.

Yesterday, the ministry ordered the printing company to reprint the history text book after an error was spotted in the location of Malacca state being in the East Coast region, that is, above the state of Kelantan.

This had gone viral on social website and invited various public reaction, especially from parents.

Mahadzir said the printing of the book would only involve national schools (SK).

When asked to comment on a MCA veteran leader's name being omitted from the Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) history textbook, he said the books were printed based on the history in 1963.

"The book, we produced follows the history of the formation of Malaysia in 1963 and highlights areas in the peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak. MCA veteran the late Wong Pow Nee who is said to be not listed in the book is actually known as a member of the Cobbold Commission.

"The book just listed the names of the representatives of the peninsula including Tunku Abdul Rahman and Abdul Razak Hussein. Wong's name was only mentioned as a member of the commission," he said.

On Saturday, MCA deputy president Dr Wee Ka Siong said he was 'shocked' that Wong was not mentioned in the SJKC text book despite the leader's contributions.

Even former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew was mentioned in the textbook.

- Bernama