Empowering National Schools to Wipe Out Racial Polarisation
Bernama – 3/4/2006
KUALA LUMPUR - Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the government will expedite the process of empowering national schools by making them schools of choice to wipe out racial polarisation.

The Prime Minister said education is seen as a solution to racial polarisation which still existed in the country.

He said disunity among the people would only stifle efforts to develop the nation and jeopardise political stability.

"As such we have to empower education. I have said before, not once. I have said a long time ago. I'm sorry it is taking a long time. We want to expedite it," he said.

He said this when asked by Datuk Johan Jaaffar during a programme, 'Di Sebalik Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan' (Behind the Ninth Malaysia Plan) aired over RTM tonight.

Abdullah was asked whether unity could be achieved since racial polarisation still existed in schools, the workplace and the public service in general.

He said the racial factor should not be an excuse for parents to choose schools for their children, and they should always regard every school as the best.

The national school, he said is for all races in Malaysia, and is not merely for the Malays.

"No. Shouldn't think that way. The Malays also have the same thinking. Don't think that this is how the non-Malays think. Sometimes, the Malays also think the same way," he said when asked on the perception that national schools, given the large number of Malay students compared to other races, would become Malay schools.
Source: Bernama | www.bernama.com