KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- To become a Malaysian, one must at least go to the same school, said former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said a single stream school was an ideal system practised by other countries in the world.

"Well, I think that is an ideal system...no country in the world has got three streams...none...all the countries in the world have got only one stream each based on their own language.

"You can have some schools (of other stream) but the general education must be in one stream," he told reporters after launching Rhythm of the 21st Century - Monologues of Raja Shahriman which showcased the latest artworks of Malaysia's contemporary sculptor Raja Shahriman Raja Aziddin at Galeri Petronas, here today.

However, Dr Mahathir said in this country, you could not even talk about it because the Chinese educationists were very vehement that their children must be like Chinese.

"The Chinese educationists do not even want Chinese children to be near Malay children.. they mustn't get into contact with Malay children... that is why they rejected our vision school," he said.

However, he said it was bad to remain completely separate to the point where you did not allow your children to mix with other children of other races.

"We are very free, we allow you to retain your name, you culture, your religion but to be a Malaysian, we must at least go to the same school," he said.

In another development, Dr Mahathir expressed his surprise over the arrest of Perlis former Mufti as he regarded Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin as a very learned and knowledgeable person in religious matters.