UNIMAP test paper: ‘Dark-skinned Indians’, anti-khat group showing-off power
PUCHONG: While many are furious over a question in an Ethnic Relations test paper prepared by Universiti Malaysia Perlis, which was seen to belittle critics of Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik, the paper also contained several controversial questions which are missed by the public.
The questions spotted by The Leaders Online found offensive remarks against the Indian community and those opposed to the introduction of Jawi calligraphy in schools.
Question 12 of page 8 in the test paper has the following question:
‘’These people are dark-skinned people and they are also found in Asian countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia. What nation is this?”
The multiple-choice answers given are:
- Negroid
- Red Indian
- Indians
- Bushman
The answer circled was the Indian community. The picture depicted on the question paper also shows Malaysians of Indian ethnicity, but only those with dark complexion.
A point to note that the question made an error when it referred to local Indians as a nation. While the Malay version correctly pointed to the community as ‘kaum’, the English translation referred to them as a ‘nation’.
Another controversial question was directed to those opposed to the implementation of Jawi calligraphy in schools, via Question 58 on page 28.
The question goes as follows:
“Previously, the Jawi writing was hot topic of discussion in the country. It has opened the eyes of many to express the views and opinions on the matter. Even some politicians are involved in this. Why is this wrong in the eyes of certain parties?”
While the question itself may sound intellectual, the choice of answers given would surely raise the ire of many, seemingly to allude that Jawi-calligraphy critics were anti-Islam and power crazy.
The multiple-choice answers are:
- It is related to Islam
- They try to show the power they have
- They love it
- The nature of the desire to study deeply within
The answer circled were I and II.
Speaking to The Leaders Online, several undergraduates from UNIMAP said they felt frustrated and angry over the questions, saying it was nothing more than an effort to undermine the non-Malays and put the anti-Jawi calligraphy group in bad light.
The students wished to remain anonymous, fearing backlash from the university administration.
“This is one way of the government telling us non-Malays what is our standing in this country. It’s a dumb set of questions from dumb people,” said one student.
Another student from the engineering department said that the question paper was set with politics of religion in mind.
“The best part is, the lecturer involved in setting the questions refuses to admit his folly despite getting criticism from many quarters. He is even defending it,” said the engineering student.
Another student from the same faculty said that this was nothing more than Malay-Muslim supremacy champions trying to force their views down people’s throats.
“And this never happened during Barisan Nasional’s time. It’s just a manifestation of the rot in our education system and the country as a whole,” he said.
Yesterday, social media users went up in arms over a question in the exam paper which appeared to praise Zakir and berated those opposed to him.
The preacher fled to Malaysia after the Indian government threw money laundering charges against him. The Malaysian government had since refused to extradite Zakir despite officials requests from the India.
By G Vinod
