Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said he does not blame parents for sending their children to international schools, but it would lead to national schools becoming more mono-ethnic.

There was also the danger of national schools becoming dominated by pupils of one community, he was reported to have said.

“During my time, the government did not allow most Malaysians to go to international schools. This may be an unpopular opinion, but I think that’s a good policy,” Nik Nazmi said at a public forum today, Malaysiakini reported.

In his time attending La Salle school in Petaling Jaya, he had a diverse group of friends, Nik Nazmi said. However, Malay pupils now formed 95% of the school population.

Nik Nazmi, who is MP for Setiawangsa, said the national education system must be improved, to persuade parents to send their children there.

There was an upward trend among middle-class parents sending their children to international schools.

“Today, as long as you have some money, it’s an aspirational thing. I don’t blame parents for sending their kids there (to international school)… but it breaks up the (education) system,” he said.

“Even the teacher population is becoming more and more mono-ethnic. It all adds up, this problem becomes worse and worse, and you are confined to your own circle.”