Chinese opinion to be debated in KL

Chinese opinion to be debated in KL

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's ruling coalition will debate the ethnic Chinese community's reaction to a controversial new school system, news reports said on Sunday.

Government politicians believe that ethnic Chinese anxiety over proposals for an education overhaul cost them hundreds of votes in a recent local assembly election won by the opposition.

"The Chinese have a very deep love for their culture, language and education," Health Minister Chua Jui Meng was quoted as saying by the Sunday Star and New Sunday Times newspapers.

Opposition leaders have admitted they capitalized on concerns over the government's Vision School project - which aims to put schools for ethnic Malay, Chinese and Indian students under one roof - to win last week's closely watched by-election.