Malaysian education ministry may make Mandarin, Tamil compulsory

KUALA LUMPUR - The education ministry of Malaysia is looking into a proposal to make the learning of Mandarin and Tamil language teachers compulsory in national schools.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said there was already such a policy in place, but that it had not been implemented.

“The people, regardless of where they are of Indian or Chinese ancestry or other ethnic groups, can learn more than two languages,” The Star quoted him, as saying.

“The national language and English are important but other languages such as Mandarin and Tamil should also be learnt,” he added.

he proposal has also received strong backing from People’s Progressive Party (PPP), an important constituent member of the ruling National Front.

PPP president M. Kayveas had earlier proposed to Muhyiddin to make Mandarin and Tamil compulsory subjects in schools. (ANI)