Of Race and Man: Reconstructing Citizenship and the Nation in Abdullah Hussain's Interlok
Abstract
This paper attempts to provide an alternative perspective of Abdullah Hussain's Interlok (2010) by examining the original version of the novel published in 1971. Exploring the controversy through claims made by the general public, academics and experts through the Internet, we argue that those who found the novel racist in essence are themselves guilty of racism. The paper will further suggest that Abdullah Hussain is a fierce nation builder who attempts to redefine the nation's idea of citizenship and nationhood that can be explained by using the Race Relations Cycle theory. Most importantly, the article demonstrates the writer's desire to try and redefine citizenship among the Malaysian people by deconstructing well-perceived stereotypical race constructions and promoting unity in a new nation.
Keywords: Interlok, racism, nationalism, Abdullah Hussain
References
Abdullah Hussain, 1971. Interlok. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Abdullah Hussain, 2010. Interlok. Edisi Murid. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Abdullah Hussain, 2010. Interlock. Translated by Azizah Hamzah & Hashim Yaacob. Kuala Lumpur: Institut Terjemahan Negara Malaysia.
Abdullah, F., 2007. "Dasar Pendidikan Kebangsaan" in Y. Ismail, Dasar-Dasar Utama Kerajaan Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Percetakan Zafar, 119-34.
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Farish A. Noor, 2009. What Your Teacher Didn't Tell You: The Annexe Lectures (Vol. 1). Puchong: Matahari Books.
Feagin, J.R., Feagin, C.B., 1999. Racial and Ethnic Relations. 6th Edition. Missouri: Prentice Hall
Hartal MSM. (2011, February 22). "Interlok: Chinese sell their daughters". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://www.malaysia-today.net/archives/ archives-2011/38301-interlok-chinese-sell-their-daughters.
Hartal MSM. (2011, February 24). "Interlok: When The Indian Cries, Nobody Hears". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://www.malaysianmirror.com/ media-buzz-detail/4-letters/52131-interlok-when-the-indian-cries-nobodyhears.
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Malaysian Mirror. (2011, February 24). "Interlok: Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section Speaks Out". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://www. malaysianmirror.com/media-buzz-detail/4-letters/52134-interlok-chineseassembly- hall-youth-section-speaks-out.
Pragalath, K. (2011, January 28). "Imperative that the Public Lock Horns over Interlok". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://english.cpiasia.net/index. php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2129&catid=222.
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The Malay Mail. (2011, February 15). "Nobody Should Issue Sensitive Statements before Interlok". Panel Meeting: Palanivel. Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://mmail.com.my/content/63891-nobody-should-issue-sensitive- statements-interlok-panel-meeting-palanivel.
Thong, S. (2011). "Interlok: Chock Full of Insults Against Chinese Too (and Lots of Unsavoury Material)". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://scottthong. wordpress.com/2011/02/22/interlok-chockfull-of-insults-againstchinese- too/.
Utusan Online. (2011, January 12). "Dusta Jika Anggap Interlok Tidak Baik". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info. asp?y=2011&dt=0112&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Dalam%5FNegeri& pg=dn_06.htm.
Utusan Online, (2011, January 12). "MCA Pertahan Interlok, Tiada Elemen Rasis". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://www.utusan. com.my/ utusan/info.asp?y=2011&dt=0112&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Dalam% 5FNegeri&pg=dn_07.htm.
Wicks, P., 1980. "Education, British Colonialism, and a Plural Society in West Malaysia: The Development of Education in the British Settlements along the Straits of Malacca, 1786-1874" in History of Education Quarterly, Vol. 20, No. 2. 163 -87.
Zulkifli Jalil, (2011, January 12). "Rais: Biarkan Perenggan itu…" Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/ info.asp?y=2011&dt=0112&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=Dalam_Negeri&pg=dn_05.htm&
arc=hive.
Abdullah Hussain, 2010. Interlok. Edisi Murid. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Abdullah Hussain, 2010. Interlock. Translated by Azizah Hamzah & Hashim Yaacob. Kuala Lumpur: Institut Terjemahan Negara Malaysia.
Abdullah, F., 2007. "Dasar Pendidikan Kebangsaan" in Y. Ismail, Dasar-Dasar Utama Kerajaan Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Percetakan Zafar, 119-34.
Abraham, C. (2011, February 26). "Withdrawal of Interlok Mandatory". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/ letterssurat/38391-withdrawal-of-interlok-mandatory.
Anthony, J. (2011, January 18). "Interlok: Scant Understanding Dangerous to School Children". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://english.cpiasia.net/ index.php?
Arthur, J., 2007. Race, Equality and the Burdens of History. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Dzulkifli Abdul Razak. (2011, January 29). "Time for Majlis Profesor Negara to Step In". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://www.nst.com.my/ nst/articles/mapff/Article.
Farish A. Noor, 2009. What Your Teacher Didn't Tell You: The Annexe Lectures (Vol. 1). Puchong: Matahari Books.
Feagin, J.R., Feagin, C.B., 1999. Racial and Ethnic Relations. 6th Edition. Missouri: Prentice Hall
Hartal MSM. (2011, February 22). "Interlok: Chinese sell their daughters". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://www.malaysia-today.net/archives/ archives-2011/38301-interlok-chinese-sell-their-daughters.
Hartal MSM. (2011, February 24). "Interlok: When The Indian Cries, Nobody Hears". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://www.malaysianmirror.com/ media-buzz-detail/4-letters/52131-interlok-when-the-indian-cries-nobodyhears.
Helmi Mohd. Foad. (2011, January 8). "100 Penduduk Bakar Interlok". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info. asp?y=2011&dt=0108&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=Terkini &pg=bt_26. htm&arc=hive.
Johan Jaaffar. (2011, January 22). "Give a Fair Hearing to Abdullah's Interlok". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://www.nst.com.my/nst/ articles/17johan0121/Article/.
Kohn, H., 1944. The Idea of Nationalism: A Study in its Origins and Background. New Jersey: Transnational Publisher.
Malaysian Mirror. (2011, February 24). "Interlok: Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section Speaks Out". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://www. malaysianmirror.com/media-buzz-detail/4-letters/52134-interlok-chineseassembly- hall-youth-section-speaks-out.
Pragalath, K. (2011, January 28). "Imperative that the Public Lock Horns over Interlok". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://english.cpiasia.net/index. php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2129&catid=222.
Rajendran, N.S. (2011, January 20). "Interlok Controversy: Respect Our Rich Cultural Diversity". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://www.nst.com. my/nst/articles/19lock/Article/.
Suzieana Uda Nagu, Nurjehan Mohamed. (2011, January 22). "Issues: Interlok in Gridlock". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://www.nst.com.my/nst/ articles/Issues_Interlokingridlock/Article/.
The Malay Mail. (2011, February 15). "Nobody Should Issue Sensitive Statements before Interlok". Panel Meeting: Palanivel. Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://mmail.com.my/content/63891-nobody-should-issue-sensitive- statements-interlok-panel-meeting-palanivel.
Thong, S. (2011). "Interlok: Chock Full of Insults Against Chinese Too (and Lots of Unsavoury Material)". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://scottthong. wordpress.com/2011/02/22/interlok-chockfull-of-insults-againstchinese- too/.
Utusan Online. (2011, January 12). "Dusta Jika Anggap Interlok Tidak Baik". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info. asp?y=2011&dt=0112&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Dalam%5FNegeri& pg=dn_06.htm.
Utusan Online, (2011, January 12). "MCA Pertahan Interlok, Tiada Elemen Rasis". Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://www.utusan. com.my/ utusan/info.asp?y=2011&dt=0112&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Dalam% 5FNegeri&pg=dn_07.htm.
Wicks, P., 1980. "Education, British Colonialism, and a Plural Society in West Malaysia: The Development of Education in the British Settlements along the Straits of Malacca, 1786-1874" in History of Education Quarterly, Vol. 20, No. 2. 163 -87.
Zulkifli Jalil, (2011, January 12). "Rais: Biarkan Perenggan itu…" Retrieved 8 March 2011, from http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/ info.asp?y=2011&dt=0112&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=Dalam_Negeri&pg=dn_05.htm&
arc=hive.
Published
2016-03-11
How to Cite
SYED MOHAMED, Ahmad Thamrini Fadzlin; MD. YUSOF, Noraini; HASHIM, Ruzy Suliza.
Of Race and Man: Reconstructing Citizenship and the Nation in Abdullah Hussain's Interlok.
Malay Literature, [S.l.], v. 24, n. 2, p. 171-188, mar. 2016.
ISSN 2682-8030.
Available at: <https://jurnal.dbp.my/index.php/MalayLiterature/article/view/521>. Date accessed: 27 apr. 2024.
doi: https://doi.org/10.37052/ml.24(2)no1.
Section
Archive
