Students reject other races

Students reject other races

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Racial polarization is still a major problem at Malaysian universities with some students refusing to share rooms with those from different races, a report said on Monday.

The Sun newspaper quoted Mohamad Hafeez Abdul Samad, a students' representative at the University of Malaya, as saying about 10 percent of undergraduates refused to share rooms with different races.

Malays make up just over half the population, followed by Chinese and Indians.

Mohamad Hafeez was responding to a statement by National Unity Minister Zaharah Sulaiman, who described the situation as "unhealthy".

Last month Lee Lam Thye, a member of the National Unity Advisory Panel, said racial divisions in schools and universities would threaten national unity unless they are addressed.