Why are the MCA Ministers and leaders silent now when the omission of Wong’s role in the history texts was not rectified?

Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid owes Malaysians an explanation as well, added Lim. “It seems that the mistake of putting Malacca in the east coast above Terengganu could be corrected but the omission of Wong Pow Nee in the formation of Malaysia, as one of the members of the Cobbold Commission which recommended positively on the establishment of the Federation in 1963, could not be rectified.”

Lim, who is also DAP Parliamentary Leader, proposed that Mahdzir present a White Paper on history texts in Parliament when it meets in March. “He should explain how such shocking mistakes could happen. Who are the persons and agencies responsible? What action has been taken to ensure that Malaysian taxpayers would not have to pay for the RM3 million incurred in re-printing the history textbooks?”

Lim was commenting on Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Director-General Awang Sariyan confirming that the reprinting of the history textbooks would cost RM3 million.

“It’s shocking as to how such a basic mistake, which should not be made under any circumstances, could be made despite the various levels of checks and counter-checks, from the choice of the author to the writing of the text, including the title to the diagrams and content to the last page,” reiterated Lim.

Clearly, he said, the whole system of checks and counter-checks has broken down at the Education Ministry. “It does not reflect well on the professionalism of the Education Ministry, departments and agencies like the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) delegated with such tasks.”