KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Proponents of English-medium schools found an unlikely ally in a Malay rights coalition figure today, who expressed support for the system as a way to achieve national unity.

The remark by Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Hilmi Ismail (picture), the president of Malay rights NGO Gagasan Melayu Perak, comes as concerned parents supporting the Teaching of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) continue to lambast the government for abandoning the option for students to learn in English.

“What is wrong with that if we want unity? Maybe we need to return to think that way again,” Hilmi told reporters here, referring to English-medium schools.

Hilmi, who is also chairman of the Malay Consultative Council’s (MPM) steering committee, claimed that attending English-medium schools does not make someone a “lesser Malay”.

He had earlier related his experience going to English-medium Anderson School in Ipoh, and how it helped him make friends with students from other races.

“Now we have more and more Chinese schools, Tamil schools. How can you go for the unity spirit? It is difficult,” Hilmi added.

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) pro-chancellor Tan Sri Dr Abdul Rahman Arshad had also called in May for the abolishment of vernacular schools, but the suggestion was widely-panned by non-Malay politicians and figures from both sides of the political divide.

Abdul Rahman, a former director-general of education, had reportedly said that vernacular Chinese and Tamil schools were a barrier to the country’s unity, and that the 13th general election showed the racial divide in the country worsen.

NGOs such as Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE), Malacca Action Group for Parents in Education (MAGPIE), and Herald of Penang for Education (HOPE) have held several rallies in the past months to push for PPSMI and English-medium schools to be available as an option for students.

The PPSMI policy was abandoned in 2011 for the pro-Bahasa Malaysia MBMMBI.

MPM also claimed today that the disparity between urban and rural schools means merit-based education will be injurious to Malay students’ chances.

“If you’re on the same playing field, then you can apply meritocracy ... Otherwise in the end it’s like stabbing your own self,” Hilmi said.

“(If) you introduce meritocracy, you’re stabbing the Malays who have the special rights to be awarded scholarships.”