SPM History Textbook Controversies

Unintended/Biased?

Our Malaysian Form 4 History textbook had it's syllabus changed, with 50% of the subject devoted to Islamic history as compared to only 16.6% in the previous textbook from the past decade.

In the previous textbook, “Sejarah Peradaban Dunia – Tingkatan 4”, Islamic history was one of the six chapters in the book:

1. Tamadun Awal Manusia
2. Islam Mengubah Tamadun Manusia
3. Perubahan Masyarakat Eropah dan Kesannya
4. Revolusi: Fasa Baru Kehidupan Manusia
5. Zaman Imperialisme Barat dan Reaksi Masyarakat Setempat
6. Ke Arah Kerjasama Masyarakat Antarabangsa

In the revised history textbook, “SEJARAH – Tingkatan 4”, Islamic history occupies five of the ten chapters:

1. Kemunculan Tamadun Awal Manusia
2. Peningkatan Tamadun
3. Tamadun Awal Asia Tenggara
4. Kemunculan Tamadun Islam dan Perkembangan di Makkah
5. Kerajaan Islam di Madinah
6. Pembentukan Kerajaan Islam dan Sumbangannya
7. Islam di Asia Tenggara
8. Pembaharuan dan Pengaruh Islam di Malaysia sebelum Kedatangan Barat
9. Perkembangan Eropah
10. Dasar British dan Kesannya terhadap Ekonomi Negara

While Islamic history has expanded from 16.6% to 50%, Asian history and civilizations like Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism have been further marginalize and given lesser space. Don't even get me started on modern history.

What were they thinking?!

The people over at DBP (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka) seriously need to look into this matter. Didn't they reviewed it first before publishing? Did they run out of ideas for the textbook?

I don't mind learning on Arabic culture, but spending most the time memorizing religious history is just plain ridiculous! What happened to American, African, Asian and European history? We should learn more about the world than focus on a particular group.

Related info:
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/National/2534586/Article/index_html
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/National/2534601/Article/index_html