PAS Deputy President Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man proposed introducing Mandarin and Tamil language lessons in Malaysian national schools, stating that learning each other's languages could foster better understanding and bridge divides among different communities.
The proposal was announced during the opening of the PAS supporters' wing congress in Sungai Petani, Kedah, where Tuan Ibrahim emphasized that language barriers contribute to racial misunderstandings and suspicions.
The Kubang Kerian MP later clarified that Mandarin and Tamil should be offered as elective subjects in national schools rather than mandatory requirements, allowing students flexibility in their language learning choices.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Malaysian Inclusive Development and Advancement Institute (MINDA-UKM) praised the proposal as "realistic and already happening," noting that the Ministry of Education currently provides trained teachers for Mandarin and Tamil subjects when requested.
The initiative aims to improve national unity and reduce prejudice among children of different races, though it has sparked debate about implementation details and existing educational policies in Malaysia's diverse linguistic landscape.
