BUKIT MERTAJAM, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Historian and academician Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim has called on the government to restructure the national education system and do away with the multiple stream arrangement.

He said that having a multiple stream system was not helpful in getting the people understand the concept.

He added that the people had been segregated since they were small either according to streams in schools or mother tongues, and when they grew up, it would be difficult for them to cooperate with one another.

"We don't need a multiple stream system, and the teaching of mother tongues can be incorporated into the curriculum," he told reporters after a discourse programme on "One Malaysia: Challenges and Hopes" here today.

He said that there would be people who would object to the proposal, but he added that they should look into how far the existing system had been able to strengthen the country's nation-building efforts.

Dr Khoo said that during the British era, vernacular schools were set up to allow students to learn about their countries of origin.

"However, the system is no longer needed as they are now citizens of Malaysia and should be taught to accept the country and its multiracial races as part of themselves," he said.

He expressed disappointment over the attitude of some sections of the societies whom he said were ignorant of the country's history.

He also took to task some politicians whom he said were more interested in pursuing personal agenda.

"There are politicians who prefer separation than integration," he said, adding that this attitude would be a hindrance to the full acceptance of the 1Malaysia concept.