MCA Seeks Unbiased Review Of Syllabus & Contents Of History Textbooks. There's No Chance Of This Under An Umno Govt

From today's The Star.

The MCA has recommended that a multiracial committee similar to the one formed to fine-tune the Ethnic Relations module be set up to review and finalise the syllabus and contents of History textbooks.

Its education bureau chief Senator Datuk Lee Sing Chooi said a review paper providing recommendations to improve the syllabus had been submitted to Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

“As citizens of a multi-ethnic, cultural and religious country, it is paramount to give due recognition to the history of each community in an unbiased manner.

“The subject should not just focus on one section of the community while neglecting to mention the roles and struggles of all communities,” he said at a press conference at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

He said information on major civilisations throughout the world should be expanded further to keep abreast with general knowledge and to encourage the understanding of international relations and history.

“This will provide a more balanced paradigm for our future generations and offer them a more competitive edge in embracing the challenges of globalisation,” he said.

Lee said personal convictions that might influence impressionable youths should be omitted from the contents of the textbooks.

“Terms which will spark feelings of uneasiness, resentment and result in rifts in our multiracial country must be avoided.

“The younger generation should be provided with a well-balanced perspective to instil unity and to share a common burden of nation- building and progressive outlook for the benefit of all,” he said.

At a separate press conference, Hishammuddin said he would study the syllabus and contexts of the textbooks in a comprehensive way.

“The National Education Blueprint (2006-2010) is for us to bring transformation to the educational field, and within these five years we will listen to constructive suggestions,” he said.

Lee together with The Review Paper project coordinator Loh Seng Kok and Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research CEO Fui K. Soong later issued a joint statement addressing the same sentiment.

***** If MCA genuinely wants to see a more accurate depiction of the nation's history, it should first change its support from BN to Pakatan Rakyat. There is simply no way that the fanatics in Umno would allow the truth to be told. They would prefer to wallow with pride in the fictional muck that they have created over the past fifty years.

In any case, even if some honest umnoputera (if we can find one and Hishamuddin definitely does not fit the bill) attempts to provide an unbiased version, he'll be hooted and booted out of the party. Certain historical half-truths, like ketuanan Melayu, a vague 'social contract', the unrestrained romanticising of Malay warriors and freedom fighters, the near total omission of the contribution of non-Malays in nation building, the over-emphasis on things Islamic and a pro-Arabic slant are essential for the continued survival of Umno.

MCA is either possessed with exuberant optimism, remarkable naiveté or is in perpetual denial mode for expecting meaningful changes to the syllabus and contents of our history books from Umno, home to the most rabid cultural and racial zealots in the country.