Kuala Lumpur – MIC Treasurer General Dato Sri S.Vel Paari has slammed UTM Vice Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Wahid Omar for covering up the issues on teaching modules as mere “mistakes”. Several groups have condemned the erroneous remarks about Hindus and Sikhs in UTM’s teaching modules. The following is the full text of Vel Paari’s press statement released today:
“First, I would like to congratulate YB P Kamalanathan, who is also deputy Education minister, for impressing upon the UTM vice-chancellor on the need to rectify the erroneous claims concerning Hindus and Sikhs in a teaching module. It was also reported that the vice-chancellor “admitted” there were “mistakes”.
However, an admission is not sufficient. These are not “mistakes”, but utter disrespect, arrogance and bigotry conceived in a mind that has little knowledge or tolerance, unfortunately entrusted with the task of producing modules to educate young Malaysians.
Furthermore, was this module not vetted by the academic staff of the university before being used for teaching? Or was that another oversight as well?
It is disheartening to note that non-Muslims are often at the receiving end of such ugly episodes. It is truly saddening to see that right under our noses the disrespect our children are subjected in a so called famed education institution. Such derogatory statements leaves a lasting effect on our children.
To those from the majority religion, it affords them a superiority complex, whilst sadly to the minorities it affects their pride and honour and deflates their confidence resulting in a community that is prejudiced by hate.
When there are perceived insults to Islam, there is an uproar and police investigations, even threats of racial violence. But when it involves the non-Muslims, it is simply dismissed as mistakes or oversights.
I will be urging my party president Datuk Seri Dr Seri S Subramaniam to raise this UTM issue during the next Cabinet meeting and with Minister for Higher Education. Datuk Seri Dr. Subramaniam has been very clear in his clear stand on issues like this, especially his recent stand against Hudud Bill together with some of his cabinet colleagues.
But I want the vice-chancellor to issue an apology and explain how this module received the green light in the first place. For those responsible for the module must be sacked.
I also call on the police to investigate the matter under the Sedition Act. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has often warned that those who trample upon religious and racial sensitivities would not be tolerated.
This is a blatant example of how the sensitivities of Hindus and Sikhs have been trampled upon. What makes it worse is that the perpetrators are those responsible for shaping the future generations of Malaysians.
I find this disgusting. And if the issue is swept under the carpet, with a mere “admission” and promise to “rectify the mistakes”, then the future of our nation appears bleak.
Finally in rewording a quote of Mr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“AS MALAYSIANS WE HAVE LEARNED TO MAKE VARIOUS ADVANCEMENT. BUT WE HAVE YET TO LEARN TO WALK AS 1MALAYSIANS IN MALAYSIA. ESPECIALLY IN UTM “
