Simpang Renggam Member of Parliament Maszlee Malik has instructed his lawyer to send a letter of demand to Umno Youth Chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki to make an open apology and pay compensation for defamation over the form 4 history textbook issue he raised earlier.
Maszlee said he hoped the action would make all parties aware, regardless of political party, the culture of racist slander should be stopped immediately, let alone it involves national education issues, especially children’s education.
“I have received advice from my lawyer and instructed my lawyer to send a letter of claim to Asyraf on the defamatory statement issued. I instructed the lawyer to demand that the letter demand Asyraf to make an open apology and pay compensation for defamation.
“This evil culture of slander must be stopped because it does not benefit the people in the least. “Politicians should now focus on helping the people and starting a political culture of service, not finding fault, accusing and slandering at will,” he said in a statement on Facebook.
Earlier, Maszlee, who is also the former education minister, urged Asyraf to withdraw the statement regarding the alleged fact that the form 4 history textbook contained elements of manipulated facts.
He said if no apology or withdrawal of statement was made, he would file a defamation suit.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) defended the accuracy of the textbook facts, after Asyraf claimed that there was an element of fact being manipulated.
The MOE stressed that the textbook of the Secondary School Standard Curriculum (KSSM) form 4 history complies with “all publishing processes” to ensure the quality of the book, “including accuracy of facts”.
According to the MOE, the publication of the textbook is based on the KSSM Form 4 Curriculum and Assessment Standard Document (DSKP) history.
Asyraf had previously urged the MOE to withdraw the textbook, claiming that there was an element of fact manipulated by glorifying the communists as freedom fighters.
