Malaysia to retain textbook that upset ethnic Indians

KUALA LUMPUR: Ethnic Indian activists in Malaysia have decried a government decision to retain a high school textbook that refers to the Hindu caste system.

The dispute has aggravated many among Malaysia's ethnic Indian minority who complain that authorities in this mostly Malay Muslim country fail to respect their sensitivities.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said late Thursday that a special panel will propose amendments that can be made to the book before it eventually becomes compulsory for high school literature classes.

Mohan Shan, president of the Malaysia Hindu Sangam organization, said the book should be withdrawn entirely because it allegedly portrays ethnic Indians as coming from inferior communities.

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