Interlok: Umno’s subjudicationist and racist agenda against the Indian poor

From P Uthayakumar,
Umno’s insistence on retaining Interlok after all the public outcry and allowing only 19 out of 106 proposed amendments is akin to proposing the editing of Satanic Verses and lifting its ban in Malaysia.

What is the motive for still being adamant on retaining this book if not for Umno’s racist and supremacist agenda in continuing to subjudicate especially the Indian poor?

It is in direct contravention of Articles 8 and 12 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees equality before the law and that there shall be no discrimination against any citizen on the grounds only of religion, race, descent or place of birth.

We are unable to accept the book whose original version had the racially insulting and derogatory and degressive “paria” word, “dark skinned Indians”, “memamah sireh seperti kambing”, etc. as the racist basis and thereafter retaining the remaining parts in the book for example replacing “paria” with “golongan yang sama”.

The Umno education minister by accepting a mere 20% or 19 out of the 106 amendments proposed by the Interlok panel makes a mockery of the said independent panel. The three Indian representatives were, as usual, ultimately made use of to endorse Umno’s racism.

The lesson yet again learnt from this is that the Indian elite should in future refrain from accepting such “Indian mandore” positions.

We once again call for Interlok to be replaced by the Nov 25, 2007 Hindraf Rally novel by P Uthayakumar (see www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com).

It analyses amongst others the real racial and religious harmony and co-existence that existed even immediately after independence 54 years ago, and which has today regretfully ceased to exist, and the gross acts of Umno racism that led to Nov 25 Indian poor popular uprising.

Also in the hope that the present Form Five Malay, Muslim students in particular, as the future leaders would be able to better understand and hopefully undo the gross injustices meted out to especially the Malaysian Indian poor.

Irrespective, HRP and Hindraf will continue with our struggle beyond Interlok which is really Umno racism on a day to basis meted out against the Indian poor.

Our latest firm and uncompromising stand against Umno racism and religious supremacy is evidenced by the 53 Hindraf Makkal Sakthi human rights defenders being maliciously prosecuted within one week of this month alone.

They are the only human rights activists in the world to have ever been prosecuted for merely being a member of a human rights NGO. Over 300 were arrested on Feb 27, Hindraf rally alone (123 or 109 plus the 14 candle light vigillers officially acknowledged by police).

The writer is pro tem secretary general of the Human Rights Party