Press Statement issued by Wanita MCA Deputy Chief Dato’ Yu Chok Tow over the announcement made by the Education Ministry to include “Sejarah Malaysia” in the learning syllabus of primary schools

History textbook for primary schools must not distort facts: Wanita MCA

On the announcement that history would be made a compulsory subject in primary schools for Year One pupils as early as 2010, Wanita MCA National Deputy Chairman Dato’ Yu Chok Tow today expressed her hopes that the Education Ministry will adhere strictly to historical facts when drafting the contents of the history textbook syllabus for primary schools, “This will prevent any distortion in the country’s historical facts.”

“Only by writing precisely on the country’s history will the future generation of the Malaysia learn and be equipped with the correct historical information to prevent cases whereby distorted historical information has resulted in much unhappiness to ethnic minorities,” Chok Tow pointed out.

In recent days, the Education Ministry Director General Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom has pointed out that in view that the Ministry concerned is in the process of restructuring the primary schools’ syllabus system; they will also include the subject Sejarah Malaysia into the primary school learning syllabus latest by 2011.

“The Education Ministry’s decision to take the history part out from the subject Kajian Tempatan and make it into a subject itself is a correct move. Teaching history is very crucial as pupils will learn much about each community’s contribution to the country as well as community development. This is particularly beneficial for the future generation of the country. Through studying history, Malaysians will understand the country’s nation building. Through this, we can view history as a “mirror” for us to move forward,” she emphasized.

“Even though teaching of history subject is vital, the most important aspect is the content of the history textbook. If there exists distortion in the history textbook syllabus, not only will Malaysian children be raised with a miscomprehension of the country’s struggles for nationhood and nation-building, it will create much argument and unhappiness among the people to the extent it will affect the image of the country and its government. It will also destroy the unity between the different races which in the end will betray the objectives of teaching history subject in the first place,” Chok Tow reiterated.

She said to prevent such unnecessary arguments from taking place; those involved in drafting the content of the history textbook should be rational, fair and professional in presenting the actual historical facts to the future generation of the country.

Chok Tow stressed that the Education Ministry should only allow those who truly understand, respect and seriously view the historical facts in an objective manner to participate in the drafting of the history textbook syllabus. “Only then, we could prevent any untoward incident related to any distortion in the history textbook from occurring.” 

-MCA online-