The popularity of Mandarin classes is rising among Malaysians, including those without Chinese heritage, who are starting to recognise its significance, especially living in a multicultural country.

This trend is apparent especially through the mushrooming of Mandarin classes, which use Bahasa Malaysia as a medium of instruction, catering mostly to the adult Malay students who are eager to pick up the language for a variety of reasons.

One of them is Khizanat Mandarin, a class offered in Ipoh founded by 21-year-old Deena Erissa Delaila Mohd Zawawi (above, middle), who herself does not have Chinese heritage, but learnt Mandarin as a student of a...