Introduction by CPI The Star today frontpaged ‘Interlok stays’ as its main story and reporting Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin as saying the contentious novel is to remain a Form 5 exam text but with amendments to several aspects “deemed sensitive by the Indian community???. A section of the Indian community suspects that the selection of… Continue reading Imperative that the public lock horns over ‘Interlok’
Month: January 2011
The right to know one’s history
The teaching of History at the secondary school level is shrouded in controversy due to the apparent inaccuracies, biased representations and distortion of facts. At the primary school level, Malaysian history which is examined in the subject ‘Kajian Tempatan’ (local studies) fares no better. Consider the subject matter and emphasis taught at the Year… Continue reading The right to know one’s history
Malacca is a glorified kampung fiction
Students in Malaysia are forced to study Malaccan history. They are told that Parameswara is the first Sultan of ‘Malaya’. They are also told that Malacca was a great empire. However, there is no evidence of Malacca today. In fact, there is only and plenty of evidence of the Dutch, the Portuguese, and Bukit Cina.… Continue reading Malacca is a glorified kampung fiction
Investigate Why Malaysia Has Attained World Ranking in Illicit Outflows
I refer to a report by Washington financial watchdog Global Financial Integrity which found that Malaysia lost US$291 billion or RM889 billion through illicit outflows between 2000-2008. The report written by GFI economists Karly Curcio and Dev Kar, who is a former senior economist at the International Monetary Fund is deserving of attention from everyone in… Continue reading Investigate Why Malaysia Has Attained World Ranking in Illicit Outflows
Malay history: What’s missing from the textbooks (2)
Also interesting to note is the following: In Late Yuan Dynasty, China became chaotic, people who lived along the coastal area of Fujian, under the leadership of Ong Sum Ping’s siblings, escaped to eastern Kalimantan — they landed at the river mouth. When they were exhausted, facing a shipping crisis, someone lost their arms. After… Continue reading Malay history: What’s missing from the textbooks (2)
Huazong 20- Year Plan of Action project should be published
We, the paper writers and contributors to the Huazong 20 Year Plan of Action project on Transforming Malaysia, would like to express our deep concern over the actions of the Huazong Central Committee in withholding the publication and dissemination of the final report of the project. We have learnt from media reports as well as… Continue reading Huazong 20- Year Plan of Action project should be published
Malay history: What’s missing from the textbooks
Brunei has always been known to be one of the earliest Muslim Kingdoms in Southeast Asia. They pride themselves in this fact. All their neighbors pride themselves in this too, and of course, since it is fact, it is irrefutable. Right? Good. Let’s quickly look at some FACTS then: It is taught in school… Continue reading Malay history: What’s missing from the textbooks
‘Interlok’: Scant understanding dangerous to schoolchildren
‘Interlok’, whatever that means, will go down as one of the most controversial books ever published in Malaysia. The question is do we need such a controversial book to be dished out to Form 5 students especially at this time when the question of race and religion seem to be so sensitive. The book touches… Continue reading ‘Interlok’: Scant understanding dangerous to schoolchildren
Democratic Malaysians must rally for NUJ president
The dilemma currently faced by Hata Wahari, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) president, is one that deserves the support of all caring, straight-thinking and patriotic Malaysians — employees as well as employers. Why? Because this is not about politics but the very sanctity of humanity. Utusan Malaysia’s action on Hata has not gone down well on the members… Continue reading Democratic Malaysians must rally for NUJ president
Half the country disappears in M’sian history syllabus
CPI Introduction In view of the controversy swirling around the content of the History textbooks used in schools, we thought Dr Geoff Wade’s ‘The Origins and Evolution of Ethnocracy in Malaysia’ on the measures used to maintain Malay hegemony merit revisiting. “It is very strange today that in the diverse, multi-ethnic polity of Malaysia,… Continue reading Half the country disappears in M’sian history syllabus