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International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

Abdullah’s Motive in Interlok: Social Reality or Intentional Racism Provocation?

Muhammad Izzuddin Nawi, Muammar Ghaddafi Hanafiah

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v15-i7/25941

Open access

This article examines the character portrayal of the Indians in Abdullah Hussain’s Interlok; in order to determine Abdullah’s true motive. Did he write the novel to depict social reality that happened in the early stage of Malaysia’s foundation, or he did it to provoke and insult Indians? By analysing the depiction of the Indian character within the novel, the article seeks to prove that Abdullah’s sole purpose of writing the novel is purely to unite the multi-races in Malaysia, and not because of any hidden agenda or malicious intent. Interlok reflects the unity of three biggest races in Malaysia and he succeeds in portraying it. The findings proved that the author has no hidden agenda. His only motive is portraying the process of interlocking three different but unique entities into one big and powerful group; We Are All Malaysians. Negative accusations and allegations given by some groups of people are baseless and false.

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Nawi, M. I., & Hanafiah, M. G. (2025). Abdullah’s Motive in Interlok: Social Reality or Intentional Racism Provocation? International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(7), 1823–1834.