The Justice Minister has claimed that the textbook used in the "Ethnic Relations" university course incites hatred rather than promotes harmony among communities. The government said the text will be amended only if factual errors are found.
Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews/Agencies) In Malaysia, university text books intended to teach respect and tolerance instead have the potential to instigate racial hatred, the Justice Minister said. Addressing a parliament sitting yesterday, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz described the contents of a book that is part of the curriculum as "seditious". The book, entitled "Ethnic Relations" is obligatory reading in all universities as from this year. Nazri said that whoever was unhappy with the contents should lodge a police report.
The Higher Education Minister, Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, who also addressed the House, said the government was prepared to make amendments if there were factual mistakes in the book. The textbook has been in use since early this year and its authors are Jayum Anak Jawan and Zaid Ahmad.
Nazri said the book fell short of reaching its main aim of promoting improved coexistence among ethnic groups. Fault has been found with "distorted historical facts" and "direct accusations" leveled at groups like Malaysians of Chinese origin or Indians, in relation to events or incidents that took place in the country in recent decades. For example, Indian youth are condemned for inter-ethnic violence on 9 March 2001 in Kampung Medan, a poor neighbourhood of Kuala Lumpur. According to the police, six people were killed in clashes between Malaysians and Indians, but the Indian community claims the death toll is much higher. Minister Nazri is convinced that it is necessary to "underline the positive aspects of each group and not the respective faults: Blaming anyone for the past is not going to do any good today."