Joint Press statement issued by YB Senator Dato’ Lee Sing Chooi (MCA Education Bureau Chief), Mr Loh Seng Kok (Project Coordinator for The Review Paper) and Sdri Fui K. Soong (Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research [INSAP] CEO)
In presenting the review paper to the Minister of Education, YB Dato’ Sri Hishamuddin bin Tun Hussein Onn today regarding the teaching of History in secondary schools, MCA had proposed a number of points for the Ministry of Education to improve further on the content of the current History syllabus.
“As citizens of a multi-ethnic, cultural and religious country, it is paramount to give due recognition on the History of each community in an unbiased manner, rather than centering on one section of the community while neglecting to mention the roles and struggles of other communities.”
“Similarly in order to keep abreast with general knowledge and to encourage gaining an understanding of international relations and History, major civilizations from throughout the world should be expanded further, rather than giving overwhelming attention to a particular civilisation. This will provide a more balanced paradigm for our future generation and offer them a better competitive edge in embracing the challenges of globalization.”
“Personal convictions that may influence impressionable youths should be omitted from the contents of History textbooks. Moreover, terms which will spark feelings of uneasiness, resentment and results with rifts in our multiracial country must be avoided. The younger generation of today and the future should be provided with a well balanced perspective and to instill unity, to share the common burden of nation building and progressive outlook for the benefit of all.”
MCA emphasized that “to recognize the contributions of each community and individual to and for the development and growth of Malaysia is critical and is not omitted or forgotten. History as a compulsory subject is fundamental to nation building. While many other subjects are functional and not necessarily emotive, the teaching of History can influence and determine the student’s attitude and perception in his or her later years impacting nation building.”
“MCA has always been concerned over the imbalanced and incomplete nature of the syllabus and contents in the History textbooks currently used by students in secondary schools. Our party thereby set up a review team led by YB (then) Loh Seng Kok and assisted by History lecturers, a retired civil servant and analysts from MCA’s think tank, the Institute of Analysis and Policy Research (INSAP) last year to analyse the teaching of History in secondary schools and came up with a review paper providing recommendations to improve the syllabus.”
Taking a cue from the experience of the compulsory Ethnic Relations subject for universities, it is then recommended that “a multiracial committee similar to that formed for the Ethnic Relations module should be established to review and finalise the syllabus and content of the history textbooks to check and ensure that the quality and a better balanced content is maintained.”
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