MIC backs idea of Tamil subject being taught in national schools

MIC will support any proposal to make Tamil either a compulsory or an optional subject in national schools.

Its information chief V Gunalan (photo, above) said at the same time his party remains firmly opposed to any call to abolish the vernacular schooling system in Malaysia.

"We (MIC) welcome any proposals for Tamil language subjects at national schools. We welcome it as an optional choice," he told reporters at a press conference at the MIC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

He was commenting on the call by PAS Youth chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin that the subjects of Jawi, Mandarin and Tamil should be mandatory in national schools.

According to him, the proposal was made because PAS Youth believed that the mastery of these languages would aid national integration.

Meanwhile, Gunalan also said PAS Youth wing vice-chief Salamiah Md Nor's call for the abolition of the vernacular education system in the country was merely personal.

"For us (MIC), it is her personal views. It does not represent PAS's policy.

"We believe this issue was deliberately highlighted by the DAP so it can criticise MIC for not daring to speak up against PAS.

"I would like to point out that MIC leaders were only attending the inauguration of the PAS Muktamar and not present in the hall during the debates. So the allegations by Serembang Jaya assemblyperson P Gunasekaren that MIC was silent when Salamiah spoke are baseless," he said.

Gunalan also challenged Gunasekaren to disclose details of the number of Indian students receiving a place in matriculation for 2018 and 2019.

"Yesterday he asked questions in the Tamil newspapers and we answered. Now, we're challenging him back and dare he answer?" asked Gunalan. - Mkini