MARCH 5 — It is with great sorrow that I am writing this letter on Interlok. So much exaggeration, distortions and outright lies have been peddled to incite hatred towards Interlok and its author for the past few months.

Reading Ganesh Rasagam’s letter to Malaysiakini (March 2, 2011), I realised we have buried the novel with our wilful ignorance, prejudice and fear.

In 1967, a writing competition to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Independence was held. Six (6) works of Malay literature won prizes, including Interlok (there was no first or second place prizes).

Interlok’s literary motif is simple — four chapters in total, with the first three about the different ethnic groups in Malaya, represented through fictitious characters (Malay — Seman family, Chinese — Cing Huat family, and Indian — Maniam family).

Here, we are told of the early struggles of the protagonists and communal stereotypes were used. It is in the last chapter entitled Interlok where the fates of all the three families were brought together, surviving the trials and tribulations of the Japanese occupation, Communism and ending British rule.

Interlok spoke of hope, of people helping one another regardless of creed and colour, and how humanity triumphs in the face of adversity.

Abdullah Hussain is proud of the book because it is historical fiction with strong messages of inter-racial unity. When controversy first erupted over the use of the word “pariah” — a term used to describe the group which Maniam belongs to, Malaysians took note and wondered if it should have been used as a Form 5 Literature Component (KOMSAS) text for Malay Language education in Zone 2 (Selangor, Wilayah Persekutuan KL & Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan).

Copies of an abridged student edition have already been distributed late last year because it is a new text recommended by the Ministry of Education’s KOMSAS selection committee for 2011.

Since the outbursts, the government has been trying to find seek an amicable solution to address the concerns of some parties, but an agreed compromise to further revise the students’ edition in late January fizzled.

The matter has attracted political attention from both sides of the divide. It was pointed out that Interlok contains stereotypical descriptions of the Malays, Chinese and Indians (therefore it is unacceptable), and there are factual errors in a work of fiction.

Like any other novel, there are protagonists and antagonists, and many are obviously uncomfortable when confronted with cherry-picked negative portrayals of some characters and violence in the story.

I have read Interlok in its original form in the late 80s when I was much younger, and while my personal preference is irrelevant to the debate of whether the novel should be used in schools, I know this for certain — Interlok is a book about the intertwined fate of Malayans from different communities who helped one another on the road towards Independence.

Imagine the surprise when the controversy dragged on, with threats of book burning, demonstrations and protests. Academics, scholars and writers have all weighed in on the issue, and bodies like Gapena and Pena stood by its literary merit.

This did nothing to stem the wild allegations and derision against Interlok, where the 91-year old author was subjected to much humiliation and anguish due to the wave of blind criticism on his work by some misguided, albeit well intentioned, members of the public.

At this stage, disinformation and distortions began to appear in several blogs. The National Interlok Action Team, for example, produced a report claiming that Interlok did not meet the guidelines for KBSM textbooks (Panduan Penulisan Buku Teks KBSM), despite the fact that the novel is clearly not a textbook.

Hartalmsm, a blog, selectively highlighted scanned paragraphs depicting sex, rape and suicide which form parts of the original novel’s storyline. On the Internet, quotes from the novel were taken out of their context and setting, and were touted as evidence of racism.

These included passages describing the physical traits of several characters, such as slit-eyed (sepet), dark skin (kulitnya hitam), curled hair (rambit kerinting), overweight (gemuk) — all perceived as derogatory, pejorative and insulting.

Many believe that this is a simple matter of removing a novel some find offensive. However, it is evident that the accusations levelled against Interlok is spurious, baseless and perhaps more importantly, malicious. It was widely insinuated that Interlok was selected to perpetuate themes of Ketuanan Melayu, never mind the fact that the novel was written over 40 years ago.

This insidious and subversive claim not only insulted and perverted the intentions of Interlok’s author, National Laureate Abdullah Hussain, but also defamed his work and reputation as a Malay writer.

Dr Lim Teck Ghee, citing sources from such blogs, wrote an open letter calling for Malaysians to read the book and come to a conclusion of its suitability for Zone 2 Form 5 students. He is of the opinion that the book should be withdrawn because of it potential to poison young and impressionable minds.

Do we all get to vote on the matter, or once again, it is the ones who make the louder noise that get heard? It is ironic because it is precisely the prejudice and bias of these self-appointed guardians of public interest that has derailed Interlok’s literary and educational merits.

It is the same prejudice and bias that killed Interlok before it is even taught in the classrooms, a classic self-fulfilling prophecy. I hold all these individuals accountable for the perversion of Interlok’s central message of unity.

The silent majority should wonder why we are undermining the efforts to promote national unity in schools through literature? A KOMSAS selection committee made recommendations for different zones throughout the country.

Instead of weighing the opinions of qualified academicians, scholars and writers, detractors are calling for politicians to intervene and decide on the non-political matter, i.e. forcing mob judgment on the matter regardless of the view by education experts. Will this be another repeat of the PPSMI fiasco?

Today, it might already be too late to undo the damages rendered onto Interlok. Teachers and students and their parents will have to work much harder to overcome such misconceptions, and the path of least resistance is to take it out of our schools.

We will know soon, but I pray sanity will prevail.

* Sen Tyng Chai reads The Malaysian Insider.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.