More discussions are needed over any proposals to revive government-run English-medium schools in Malaysia, said Deputy Education Minister Chong Sin Woon.

Speaking to reporters at Parliament today, Chong said such schools would have to be incorporated into the Education Act 1960 to exist.

"The legal advisors will need to study this. If we want to revive it, it will be a major issue. It is not an easy task (for the) minister alone.

"We need to discuss (the issue). Some might be asking for English schools, maybe there are those who disapprove. Let us be open and discuss," he said.

A survey commissioned by Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute suggested that the majority of Johoreans supported the revival of public English-medium schools.

Chong refused to state his personal position on the survey results and instead urged the public to engage in open dialogue on such a policy.

"I have said before that the purpose of (proposals to) restore English-medium schools is about improving (our command of) English.

"The Education Ministry has been doing this. We have a clear roadmap," he said.

Johor government officials have not responded to the survey, but Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan had said he was supportive of efforts to revive English-medium schools.

In 2015, Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar had proposed that Malaysia adopted Singapore's single stream education system with English as the medium of instruction.

He said that the system had worked well to foster harmony among Singapore's various ethnic groups and helped its economic development.