KUALA LUMPUR July 30 2003 - An Indian Muslim association has sued the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) over the entry "keling" in its dictionary, claiming that the word, including its variant meanings and metaphor is shameful, insulting and degrading to the community.
The "Angkatan Pelopor India Muslim Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan" (APIM), in an originating summons filed through the Messrs Zulkifli Yong Azmi & Co at the Higher Court Registrar Office of the Appellate and Special Powers Division on Wednesday, wants the court to declare that the DBP had failed in its duties to discharge its statutory obligation and responsibility by allowing the use of the word "keling" in the dictionary.
APIM, which is also seeking damages at the discretion of the court, also gives the variant meanings and metaphor of the word such as "keling haram", "keling mabuk todi" and "keling pelikat".
According to the affidavit affirmed by APIM Chairman Ramli Abdullah, the association issued on Nov 20, 2002 a memorandum on the use of the word "keling", which it believes is infringing the rights of the Indian community.
He claimed that the word "keling", which refers exclusively to the community, had been printed, published and allowed to be used by the DPB.
Ramli said APIM, which was set up in July 2001, had sent a copy of the memorandum to the DBP, demanding that it worked together with the Education Ministry and Home Ministry:
* To ban and drop the use of the word "keling",
* To ban the sale and distribution of the third edition of the "Kamus Dewan",
* Not to publish anymore any reading material sensitive to the Indian community in Malaysia,
* To drop the use of the word "keling" in the name of villages, resorts, roads and others in collaboration with the local authorities, and
* To give the reasons as to why the word "keling" cannot be deleted.
Ramli claimed that APIM had in a letter sent to the DBP through its counsel demanded a stop to the use of the word but until Wednesday the DBP had refused to fulfil the demand.
He said he believed that the use of the word "keling" was contrary to the Federal Constitution, "Rukun Negara" (national principles) and the Publications and Printing Presses Act 1984 (amended 1987).
NST