An opposition leader today criticised Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad for interpreting a report in a Malay-medium newspaper as reflecting the sentiments of the Chinese community instead of directly consulting community leaders and representatives.

DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang said Mahathir should learn about the views of the Malaysian Chinese from their representative parties within the Barisan Nasional, the community or from the Chinese press rather than from a Utusan Malaysia report.

"I do not know when Utusan became the most authoritative source on the wishes and feelings of the community," said Lim in a press statement.

In today's newspapers, Mahathir was quoted as saying the government believes that it has many silent supporters among the Chinese community for its plan to introduce English-medium teaching for Maths and Science based on Friday's Utusan Malaysia report.