A non-profit youth organisation based in Petaling Jaya, Youth for Change (Y4C), has come up with an Ethnic Relations course series which it says will act as an alternative for the current controversial Ethnic Relations module for universities.

The courses will begin next month, in conjunction with the month-long Merdeka Day celebrations, said Y4C's coordinator Lee Khai Loon at a press conference today to launch the course.

The main intention of the course is to provide a platform for students and the general community to understand ethnic relations in greater depth. "We strongly encourage critical thinking and open debate amongst students especially," he said.

He added that Y4C believed that its was only through open discussion and communication that relationships between citizens of different ethnicities could be improved.

Since it was announced, many have questioned the implementation of the Ethnic Relations course by the Higher Education Ministry in public universities nationwide this year. The alleged distortion of historical facts in the course textbook had sparked off widespread protests from various quarters.

Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the cabinet had agreed to recall the Ethnic Relations course textbook reasoning that "racial issues are sensitive by nature".

Experts to talk

Y4C said that although many parties were satisfied with the move to recall the book, it had not resolved fundamental issues involving race and ethnicity in this country as open debate was seriously lacking.

"With the introduction of Y4C's alternative ethnic relations course, however, students and members of the public will not only be able to contemplate Malaysian history, but also exchange thoughts with the lecturers," said Lee.

He said the course would not have fixed syllabus but would focus on developing critical thought among participants on the relevant issues though open discussions amongst themselves and the lecturers. Viewpoints from all cross sections of society, including the marginalised, will be included in the course module.

Amongst the lecturers slated for Y4C Ethnic relations course are former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, veteran politician Dr Syed Husin Ali ( pix ), social activists Hishamuddin Rais and Lee Ban Chen and Islamic expert, Professor Osman Bakar.

Syed Husin will lecture on 'Ethnic Relations and the New Economic Policy (NEP)' while Anwar Ibrahim will tackle the topic of 'Ethnic Relations and the Future of the Nation'.

Those interested in attending the lectures are asked to contact Lee at 019-3970519 or at email y4c2006@gmail.com.