MIC has requested the Education Ministry to review its ruling of allowing students to take a maximum of 10 subjects only in the Sijil Peperiksaan Malaysia (SPM) examination.

Party president S Samy Vellu said following a series of meetings with Indian NGOs and parents, the party felt that the ruling would deter Indian students from sitting for both the Tamil Language and Tamil Literature papers in the SPM examination.

samy vellu exclusive on tamil schools 080708 06 "The students could only sit for one of the (Tamil) papers as they have to also take the mandatory five compulsory subjects and the four science subjects under the new ruling.

"This would mean that they can only sit for either the Tamil Language or Tamil Literature paper," he said in a statement.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had recently said that starting next year, students sitting for the SPM examination would only be allowed to take a maximum of 10 subjects.

In line with the decision, there would also be changes in the grading system, Muhyiddin who is also the education minister said.

Revert to the original system

Samy Vellu said the new ruling would prevent Indian students from learning about Tamil history, culture and language.

"It will put them in a difficult position as many of the Indian students and even non-Indian students may want to take the two subjects (Tamil Literature and Tamil Language)," he said.

Samy Vellu hoped that the ministry would revert to the original system which allowed the students to sit for any number of papers in the SPM examination.

"Students should not be restricted to 10 subjects. Instead, they should be given a free hand to sit for any number of subjects," he said.

Samy Vellu said he would write to Muhyiddin to put on record the MIC's objection to the ruling.

"I appeal to the deputy prime minister to consult the community and make the necessary changes in line with their aspirations," he said, adding that Muhyiddin was a "fair man and a leader of all Malaysians."