Komsas reading listThe Interlok debate has raised the key question of how books are selectedas texts for the literature component of Bahasa Malaysia in schools.SUZIEANA UDA NAGU has the details

NOOK- with memorablecharacters and a riveting

lot - often stays indeliblyimprinted on the readers' mindslong after they have finished thelast chapter.

Malay novel Seteguh Karangby Tuan Faridah Syed Abdullahhas that effect on advertisingexecutive Amri Yusof who read itat age 16.

"I remember how the maincharacter Awanis was forcedto single-handedly care for hersiblings at such a young ageafter her parents died," says the26-year-old.

Amri is among the first batchof secondary school students inTerengganu, Kelantan, Pahangand Malacca to study thenovel in school as part of theliterature component of BahasaMalaysia (or Komsas) introducednationwide a decade ago.

Komsas was mooted in 1999to instil the reading habit inyoung Malaysians and promotea better appreciation of Malayliterary works among them.

The idea is to exposeschoolchildren of all ethnicities

to Malay literature and hopefullya new cohort of literaryenthusiasts and talents willemerge.

The local creative writingindustry needs a revival andyoung Malaysians who havelearned to express theircreativity through the literaturecomponent taught in schools willbe able to fill the gap.

Komsas was introduced inclassrooms to first- and fourth­formers in 200l.

It is taught twice a weekduring Bahasa Malaysia periodwhich lasts 40 minutes.

The heated debate overthe choice of Datuk AbdullahHussain's novellnterlok asthe text for the literaturecomponent of Bahasa Malaysiabeginning this year has raisedthe key question of how arebooks selected as texts forthis particular subject? (seeLearning Curve, Jan 23)

Universiti Putra MalaysiaMalay language departmentlecturer Associate ProfessorDr Lirn Swee Tin refutes thesuggestion that Interlok had not

been reviewed for its suitabilityas a Komsas text.

"Before the abridged versionof Interlok was selected asrequired reading for fifth­formers this year, the novelhad already been used in itsentirety as a Malay Literaturetext by sixth-formers who satfor the SijilTinggi PersekolahanMalaysia examination between1976 and 1985.

"It was used in schools fornine years with no objections,"he says.

Urn is one of the authorsand academicians involved inthe Komsas reading materialsevaluation process in 2008.

Interlok is among more than700 novels, poems, drama andtraditional prose evaluated forsecondary schoolchildren's usethat year.

Lim, who is also a poetand winner of the SoutheastAsia Write award in 2000,maintains that all works ofliterature submitted to theEducation Ministry's CurriculumDevelopment Centre forevaluation undergo strict

procedures todetermine theirsuitability (seeH3).

"Kornsasreadingmaterials werefiltered atmultiple levelsby students,teachers(of threecategories:Expert,Graduate andExcellent), writers,academicians, nationallaureates as well as officialsfrom the Education Ministry andDewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

"The ones that are taughtin schools have met all thecriteria," says Lim.

If works of literature nourishthe soul, it is then necessaryto expose young readers tomaterials that can broadentheir outlook and build theircharacter.

Learning literature as acomponent of Bahasa Malaysiain school has certainly shap~d

•

Amri Yusofs perception of life."Reading in class has given

me the skills to be critical ofwhat I read. It has also nurturedmy passion for writing and mademe a literary and art sceneenthusiast," says Amri.

suzie@nst.com.my

• SEE ALSO H20

Mixed reaction to Interlok'syfate

"This is a win-win situation ­good midway point between

those who wanted to keep thebook as it is and those who wantit withdrawn altogether.

This decision is also timely;now all parties should moveforward. I hope that there willnot be any disputes during theamendment process ..

I am also happy that the bookhas been retained as studentscan learn' from the positivevalues of the muhibbah spirit ofthe time."

Malay sociolinguist and theInstitute of the Malay Worldand Civilisation deputy directorProfessor Teo Kok Seong

"I respect the PrimeMinister and Education'Minister's decision.

As a poet and recipient ofthe National Uterary Award,I hope the author's cOllf~entis taken into account beforeany amendments are done tohis book."

Institut Pendidikan Guru

Malaysia Kampus Bahasa

Melayu lecturer, poet andtranslator Raja RajeswariSeetha Raman .

Kesatuan Guru-Guru Bahasa

Melayu Malaysia Barat vice­president and teacher MatJidin Ahmad

"I trust that theGovernment has made asound decision. The move toretain and amend the bookis perhaps the best solutionto resolve the protracteddispute. However, it iscrucial that the changes donot affect the storylineandits original message:"

"I support theGovernment's move as Ibelieve it is important toestablish a middle groundfor the sake of teachers andstudents. But the decisionmust not be at the expense ofthe aesthetic of the novel. Thesanctity of the literary workmust not be compromised,"

Universiti Putra MalaysiaMalay language departmentlecturer Associate Professor DrUrn Swee Tin

THERE has been a mixed reactionto the decision to retain withamendments the abridged editionof Datuk Abdullah Hussain's novellnterlok as a text for the literaturecomponent of the subject BahasaMalaysia for fifth-formers.

Some academicians and literaryenthusiasts reacted happily to thenews while others voiced concern.

Deputy Prime Minister TanSri Muhyiddin Yassin made theannouncement on Thursday, ending theimpasse.

"The decision to continue usingthe novel with amendments so asnot to hurt the feelings of the Indiancommunity is the best solution," saysMuhyiddin, who is also Education .Minister.

Muhyiddin added in a statement onThursday that an independent panelwould be set up to study the types ofchanges to be made to the abridgedversion of the novel.

The review body - comprisinglinguists, academicians, literary figuresand representatives of Dewan Bahasadan Pustaka as well as the Indiancommunity - will then submit theirrecommendations to the Government.