UTM fiasco latest in series of distortions: Subra
Published on: Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Kuala Lumpur: A Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) slide claiming Hindus revered dirt on their bodies was in direct contradiction to the religion's requirements on cleanliness, said MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.Joining his party's P Kamalanathan in criticising the slides for the university's Islamic and Asian Civilisation Studies (TITAS) module, the Health Minister said the controversy was an indictment of the ignorance of the those tasked with educating the country's youth."As a matter of fact, all Hindu Scriptures including the Vedas (1500 BC) have stated the need to arise at the dawn of light, BATHE, pray and continue with the duties of the day," he said.
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The Minister said the UTM case suggested intentional design in perpetuating misinformation and myths about the country's minorities by unnamed and "disturbed" individuals.Dr Subramaniam said distorted facts have already infiltrated textbooks and school examinations, with the UTM slides simply being the latest to join the list of false facts being fed to Malaysian school and university students.He then directed criticism at the TITAS module itself, questioning its execution in multicultural Malaysia."Attempts to compare cultures and religions are always dangerous. It is dangerous even in the most liberated intellectual environment, what more in a multicultural and multi religious Malaysia? Any attempt to do so has to be treated with careful steps.
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"Unless there is a soul searching attempt by those in positions of responsibility to identify the root cause of such a trend, and address it, we might have to live in an environment where such distortions will continue to occur and will become a norm," he added.Deputy Education Minister P. Kamalanathan earlier expressed suspicion that the controversial slides were the work of malicious individuals intent on misrepresenting Hinduism and other religions. He also expressed his personal disappointment over the episode, notwithstanding an undertaking from the Vice-Chancellor of UTM to ensure that the incident is not repeated.
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Slides from the module caused uproar after they were posted online, outraging the local Hindu community with claims that they considered the dirt on the body as part of their religious practice to achieve nirvana.Among others, the slides also claimed that Islam had introduced civility to the lives of the Hindu community.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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