Newly-minted Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) secretary-general should offer free Bahasa Malaysia classes to poor students, said DAP lawmaker Dr Boo Cheng Hau.

"Instead of continuing to issue inflammatory statements, Shahruddin should offer free Bahasa Malaysia tuition classes to Malay and non-Malay students, especially from poor families, for at least 30 hours," said Boo.

This was among the effective ways in helping the students in learning Bahasa Malaysia and one of the ways to rehabilitate Shahruddin's mindset, said Boo, who is the Skudai assemblyperson.

Shahruddin (photo) was previously reported as saying Malay and non-Malay students who were not well-versed in the national language should be stripped of their citizenship.

Boo also demanded that Shahruddin apologise and retract his controversial statement.

"I am deeply concerned about the fact that more race-based political parties, including both BN component parties and opposition parties alike, would actually do no good to Malaysia as a nation," he said.

"The opposition pact has to aim for long-term goals and offer better workable solutions, instead of repeating the old rhetoric of ultra-nationalism."

Boo said Shahruddin should be subjected to "ideological rehabilitation" by Pakatan Harapan, which strived for non-racial politics by opening their membership to all Malaysians.

"Learning Bahasa Malaysia is our common duty, but revocation of citizenship is against any human rights convention," he said.

A more effective, humane and practical way of teaching Bahasa Malaysia should be looked into instead of fanatical rhetoric, he said.

"I would suggest that his mindset needs to be rehabilitated in order to suit the struggle of the opposition pact, especially for non-racial politics."

Boo also suggested that Shahruddin spends a minimum of 30 hours in learning one of the minority languages - Kadazan, Iban, Bidayu, Chinese or Tamil - to enhance his cultural sensitivity.