Single stream school a matter for all to mull over – Mahdzir

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KUALA NERANG: The leaders of all communities in the country need to sit down to discuss the question of whether there is a need to create a single stream school, said Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

He said the issue of a single stream school and its importance to national unity should be considered together by all communities in the country.

“Everybody has to think what is the best for unity. If the source (of unity) is from education, then we have to act.”

“(All communities) have to sit down seriously and have the political courage to state the needs of the country 50 years in the future,” he told reporters after attending a sacrificial ceremony in conjunction with Aidiladha in Kampung Mani here yesterday.

Mahdzir was commenting on the views of several parties including Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar who wanted the single stream school system to be given priority to foster unity among the communities in the country.

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who is Umno Youth chief, also shared the view that a single stream school system could empower the unity of various races in the country.

Mahdzir said after Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1966, its former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew decided to close all Chinese, Tamil and Malay stream schools in the republic.

“What is left is the Singapore national stream school,” he said.

Nonetheless, he said for the time being, the ministry will continue to empower its Student Integration Plan for Unity (RIMUP) programme to promote unity among students of various races in the country.

Through RIMUP, students can get to know each other despite their different cultures and religions and thus seek to live together in greater harmony. — Bernama