PAGOH: The government would not bow to pressure over the ‘Interlok’ novel as the issue had been resolved and the final decision already made, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He said raising of the issue again to gain support was irresponsible and ill-intended.
“The government had made its decision.We had announced this in parliament and it was endorsed, so we will hold on to that.
“If the opposition parties are exploiting the issue by getting non-governmental organisations to again voice objection (against use of the novel as a school textbook), perhaps it’s because of the upcoming (Sarawak) election.”
Muhyiddin said this when met by reporters after handing over cash aid to flood victims in the Pagoh parliamentary constituency at the Pagoh Sports Complex, here, yesterday.
He was asked to comment on the demand by Chinese and Indian non-governmental orga-nisations yesterday for the novel by national laureate Datuk Abdullah Hussain be withdrawn as a Malay literature textbook for Form Five students for what they claimed for portraying this country as Malay land and the Chinese and Indians as immigrants.
Muhyiddin, who is also Pagoh MP, said the opposition purposely did not want the issue to end, but to create anti-government feelings.
“The government, however, will not compromise as this involves national security.
“I know their ulterior motive and I wish to stress here that we will not bow to their demand. The lesson will go on an usual and we will improve on it.”
Asked whether Barisan Nasional could get two-thirds majority in the Sarawak state election on April 16, Muhyiddin said he did not want to pre-empt.
“What is important is to ensure BN wins the election to get the mandate to form the government and continue with the development agenda in Sarawak,” he said.— Bernama