Kuala Lumpur: Vernacular schools in Malaysia will stay as long as the Indian and Chinese communities want them to be, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak has said.

"For as long as the Indian and Chinese communities need to have the vernacular schools, it will continue to be a part of the national education system," Najib said.

"It had been a long-standing government policy to allow Malaysians to choose the school system they want to adopt and enroll into."

Najib's comments came after ruling party MP Mukhriz Mahathir has called for the abolishment of the vernacular school system in the country to enhance unity among the people and to check racial polarisation.

Multi-ethnic Malaysia's population comprises 60 per cent Malays, 25 per cent ethnic Chinese and eight per cent Indians, a majority of whom are Tamils.

The deputy premier noted that the Chinese and Indians in this country felt such schools were places where values could be instilled among the young.

Source : PTI