Intelok as literature who to determine?

Book lacks intricacies of issue

I REFER to "Remove novel from syllabus" (Letters, Jan 10). The question is do we need a controversial book such as Interlok, whatever that means, to be dished out to Form 5 students especially at a time when the questions of race and religion seem to be so sensitive.
The book touches on caste which in itself is a sensitive and controversial topic even among Indians. Let me briefly highlight some historical facts.The caste system was brought into India by the Aryan invaders as a form of subjugation of the Dravidian peoples of India. It is basically based on the Sanskrit word varna, (warna in Malay, varnam in Tamil) which means "colour" – yes it is based on skin colour – the Aryan invaders were fair-skinned, and Dravidians, dark. The brahmins, who are fair-skinned, were the priests or priestly caste, followed by others like khastriyas, warriors, sudra, traders and the dalits (pariyyars in Tamil). The system was created to promote a specialisation of duties and jobs, which is why you have a person in a caste based on the job he does. However a person from a lower caste can improve himself by acquiring skills and education to climb the caste hierarchy. You have hundreds of sub-castes between the North Indians and South Indians.
The lowest caste (pariah) were known as the harijan by Gandhi, meaning "God’s children". Gandhi fought tooth and nail against the caste system. However caste continues to be a controversial subject in India, with many movements against it as it causes discrimination in employment and education. In Malaysia, the British exploited the caste system by imposing a divide and rule policy in plantations i.e. by placing high-caste supervisors of Indian origin in charge of the lower-caste plantation workers.
I am not an expert in this area and write based on information acquired from books and conversations with Indian elders. Suffice to say, the caste system is complex and can be considered a human failing. I don’t know whether Interlok’s author knows the history and intricacies of the system. To just bring up the issue without going into its intricacies is unfair. To write a book with scant under-standing of the subject is dangerous not only to the writer but to readers as well, as they will be misinformed. This is especially so if the book is made compulsory reading for secondary school students.
I can’t understand why the writer chose to dwell on an issue such as this which is capable of being manipulated by certain quarters. We have seen how racial issues are blown up by politicians and individuals. I understand that the book is about national integration, but clearly here the means does not justify the end.

Jeyaseelen Anthony
Shah Alam

Islamist daring raid on army camp

Raiders seize arms cache

Assault leaves 4 dead, 13 troops wounded

• Published: 21/01/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Heavily armed troops and helicopters are combing a mountainous area in Narathiwat's Rangae district in pursuit of insurgents who attacked an army outpost and made off with a large number of weapons.

A soldier stands guard at the entrance of a military camp in Rangae district of Narathiwat yesterday following a raid on the camp by armed rebels the previous night. Four Thai soldiers were killed and 13 others injured when about 50 militants attacked the base.

Four soldiers were killed and 13 were wounded in the deadly assault on Ror15121 unit army outpost in Ban Marue Botok on Wednesday night.
The massive manhunt yesterday involved 300 troops, local authorities and sniffer dogs who searched Tawe mountain where the militants were believed to be hiding.
Trails of blood found 500 metres from the outpost suggested several of the attackers had been wounded in the 30-minute gunbattle and were taking shelter on the mountain.
Fourth Army commander Udomchai Thammasarorat supervised the search operation.
Security forces also searched nearby villages for clues and it was reported that five villagers were taken in for questioning. Authorities are expected to seek arrest warrants in coming days.
Army commander-in-chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said yesterday Tawe mountain was the focus of the massive manhunt.
"Intelligence reports indicate the suspected hideout of the militants is in the area," Gen Prayuth said. "But so far security forces haven't located it."
The raid is being described as one of the best planned attacks on a military base since the Jan 4, 2004, assault on a military camp in Cho Airong district of Narathiwat in which the attackers made off with a huge amount of firearms.
Some of those involved in that early attack are believed to have taken part in this latest raid as the firearms used on Wednesday night were among those stolen in previous militant actions.
The attackers on Wednesday made off with about 60 guns including M16 rifles and handguns and 4,000 rounds of ammunition. Among the four soldiers killed in the assault were the unit commander, Capt Krit Khampirayan. Two of the 13 wounded are in critical condition.
The power to the base was cut off before the assault, which opened on the rear of the camp. The troops called for back-up but reinforcements were hindered by felled trees and spikes spread across the access roads by the mililtants. A helicopter had to be called in to fly in the reinforcements.
More than 700 spent shells were collected from the scene yesterday. The weapons used included M16s, M60s, AK automatic rifles, shotguns and handguns.
The spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4, Col Parinya Chaidilok, said the attack appeared to be well-timed. He said troops at the outpost were not on full alert as they were at dinner.
Isoc Region 4 believes the raid had three objectives, a source said.
It was intended to counter the government's effective campaign to win the hearts and minds of the southern people, to demoralise the authorities following the lifting of the state of emergency in Pattani's Mae Lan district and to provoke the use of force in the handling of the insurgency.
The director of the non-governmental South Watch Centre, academic Srisompop Jitpiromsri, said there might be a reduction in militant attacks in the South but each could be expected to be more violent.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the assault might have been aimed at the Organisation of Islamic Committee. He said statistics suggested an increase in insurgent activities when an OIC meeting was drawing near.
Mr Abhisit insisted the incident would not affect the government's plan to lift the state of emergency in more districts.
He also said the authorities were investigating the possibility that the insurgents had the help of soldiers.
Gen Prayuth played down speculation the situation in the South would grow more violent in the wake of the attack.
He also insisted the military would observe the law in handling the insurgent violence but noted that extra-tight measures would be needed in some areas.
Lt Gen Udomchai yesterday represented the premier and the army chief in extending condolences and presenting medals to the families of the deceased.
About 1,000 local people and government officials from the area joined the bathing rites at Wat Bang Nara in Muang district. The bodies of the victims will be returned to their home towns today.
Bangkok Post

Pekasa striikes against

Perkasa claims Singapore Malays too cowed to speak

By Boo Su-Lyn

January 21, 2011

Ibrahim backed Dr Mahathir’s remarks on the oppression of Singaporean Malays. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 — Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali claimed today Singaporeans Malay were afraid of speaking up against their marginalisation, despite recent reports suggesting the community was irked with Malaysian leaders’ repeated citations of their purported oppression. Ibrahim was responding to Singapore Berita Harian readers who were reportedly unhappy with former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for claiming that the minority group was marginalised.
“No Malays in Singapore dare to talk the truth about the treatment they received,” Ibrahim told The Malaysian Insider in a text message today.
Yesterday, national news agency Bernama reported several Singapore Berita Harian readers as saying that Malays on the island-republic enjoyed progress without subsidies and on equal treatment with other communities.
One reader, Sallim Ahmad, reportedly said it had become Mahathir’s theme that “the Singapore Malays are being marginalised until the end of world.”
He also said the position of Islam was protected although it was not the official religion in the republic.
Another reader called Kamariah Lim Li Hwa was quoted as saying: “We the Malays of Singapore feel at ease and are grateful that the Singapore rulers execute our trust with transparency.”
Ibrahim claimed today, however, that these remarks did not represent the Malay community in Singapore in its entirety.
“That is a planted statement. The statement does not represent the voice of the majority of Malays in Singapore,” said the Pasir Mas MP.
“So, don’t manipulate the issues. We know what is happening,” he added.
Dr Mahathir recently warned against dispersing Kampung Baru’s Malay residents in the same way Singapore had scattered the Malay community and diluted its voice.
He wrote in his blog that while Malaysia is being governed by a Malay majority government that cares for the fate of Malays, “let us not be so sure that there will never be a government where the voice of Malay representatives is removed.”
In June, Dr Mahathir told a rally of Malay NGOs that Malays in Malaysia risked becoming marginalised like their Singapore counterparts because of political divisions.
The former prime minister had said: “If we do not think deeply about the future of our community then there is a possibility that we can become [like] the Singaporean Malays and have no power.”
Today, Selangor Anti-Fraud Coalition (GAPS) chairman Hamidzun Khairuddin said Dr Mahathir had a right to make such remarks as an elder statesman.
“What is wrong with his statements?” asked Hamidzun.
“I am sure Tun Dr Mahathir made his statements sincerely. He was looking at it as a statesman who has wide knowledge and experience in the Malay and Muslim community in the Asian region,” added the group’s leader.
Hamidzun also said the local airing of the comments by Singapore Berita Harian’s readers showed that Malaysia practised freedom of speech.
“It shows that this country respects the opinion of Singaporean Malays who can rebut what Tun Dr Mahathir said,” said Hamidzun.
He then pointed out that Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew had similarly criticised Malaysia.
In September, Lee reportedly claimed that if Malaysia’s founding father Tunku Abdul Rahman had decided to keep both nations together 45 years ago, much of what Singapore had achieved today in terms of equality among the races would be likewise be achieved in Malaysia.
“Now we have a very polarised Malaysia — Malays, Chinese and Indians in separate schools, living separate lives and not really getting on with one another,” Lee was quoted as saying in an interview with the New York Times.
TMI