VERNACULAR schooling is among Malaysia's most sensitive topics.

Now, Singapore's experience in the area could become part of a hot debate, as interest in the Republic's successful integration of vernacular schools into its bilingual education system grows north of the Causeway.

Some Malaysians feel such integration would boost national unity in a time of ethnic polarisation.

But Chinese educationists are up in arms over any attempt to dilute the character of Malaysia's hugely-popular Chinese schools, which have even attracted numerous Malay students.

Recently, the son of former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, DatukMukhriz Mohamad, set off a political firestorm by suggesting that the 1,200 Chinese- and 500 Tamil-stream primary schools be integrated into the national Malay-language system.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak had to come out to say vernacular schools would remain for as long as there was a demand for them.

Some felt Mr Mukhriz was pandering to Malay nationalists, as he is running for the post of youth chief in the country's dominant Umno party.

But he told my paper's special correspondent, Mr Ahirudin Attan, that political parties which claim to be "against race-based politics and often sing the praises of Singapore's progress and policy of meritocracy" were being hypocritical, in not wanting to "have anything to do with" learning from Singapore's integration of its schools.

"They refuse to acknowledge that our multi-medium education system is archaic and is responsible for the current polarisation which is dividing the people along racial lines," he said.

Yet, questioning that system seems to stir up even more ethnic discord.

For more my paper stories click here.