She said Deputy Rural Development Minister Abdul Rahman Mohamad’s proposal would widen the inequality gap between the B40 and T20, leading to cracks in the unity of society.

She said Putrajaya should instead make strides towards democratising early childhood education to ensure equal and quality education for all.

“The World Health Organization is of the view that governments and civil societies must work with families to provide equal access for all children to environments that are constructive and of good quality,” Wan Azizah, who is also the former deputy prime minister, said in a statement today.

“The elite preschools proposed by the Community Development Department (Kemas) goes against these aspirations in early childhood education.”

She said there had been plans by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to democratise early childhood education by placing such institutions under a special task force.

The Dewan Rakyat, she said, had been informed in November 2018 that the then Cabinet had approved the formation of the task force, whose role was to regulate the setting up and operations of early childhood education institutions in the country.

On Tuesday, Rahman was reported as saying the ministry planned to set up elite preschools under Kemas for M40 children, who will pay higher fees.

He said a working paper was being drawn up on the initiative, which will see improved facilities and learning modules.

Earlier today, PPBM Youth also cautioned the government against setting up such preschools, saying it could widen the inequality gap between the B40 and M40 groups.