The time has come for the country to implement a single stream school system for the sake of unity, says Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

His statement echoed urgings by several Malay NGOs to abandon the vernacular school system which they claim keep communities in their ethnic bubbles in favour of a single national education system.

"Forget which country you came from because today we are Malaysians," Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia reported him saying.

According to Utusan , Zahid (right) said the racial divide in this county is widening because the school systems has maintained being vernacular and uncorrected since the beginning,

Speaking at a Malaysian youth parliament event at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) yesterday, the minister was reported saying this was his personal view and not that of the ministry or the government.

He added although he agrees with teaching of the mother tongue, it should only be taught in primary school.

As soon as they step into secondary school, the national education (system) must be embraced by all, he was reported saying.

Zahid also claimed no other country uses the vernacular school system like Malaysia does and it is not helping the government's effort to strengthen national unity.

Recently, Petaling Jaya Utara Umno deputy division chief Mohamad Azli Mohamed Saad called for the abolition of vernacular schools claiming it “promotes racism and anti-establishment sentiments”.

Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong rebutted saying Azli was merely seeking publicity and attention.

Meanwhile PKR Youth Chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad ( left ) opposed to Azli's view that vernacular schools sow the seeds of division.

He added that many Chinese schools are more “multiracial” than national schools and “some race-based parties out there”.

Though Nik Nazmi admitted that multiple education streams pose challenges to national unity, the "social contract" - a term often cited by Umno leaders - also guarantees the right to vernacular education and this cannot be changed without the consent of all ethnic groups concerned.