DAP man claims 'ethnic discrimination' at national schools

A month after calling for an end to the Malay monopoly in the civil service, a DAP man has now trained his guns on government-run national schools, saying they practise discrimination against non-Malays.

"Apart from the quality of education, the phenomenon of ethnic discrimination of non-Malays is pretty apparent at national schools," said Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy.

Ramasamy claimed that "difficulties" had been placed in the teaching of Tamil and Mandarin under the Pupils' Own Language programme at national schools, resulting in non-Malay children losing interest in mother-tongue education classes.

He also proposed that the authorities make it compulsory for non-Malay students to attend the language classes.

"Such a measure could have addressed the current bifurcation of the two-system of education to some extent," he said.

Last month, Ramasamy urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to reform the civil service, saying the sector is currently dominated by the Malays due to what he said were policies implemented by former leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He also claimed that a "covert racial discrimination" was hindering the prospect of promotions for non-Malays in the public sector.