(AFP) Education experts and politicians have warned that if the alleged practice of ethnic segregation in schools is not immediately halted, it could jeopardise the fragile race relations in Malaysia.

N Siva Subramaniam, secretary-general of the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP), told AFP that children from ethnic minorities were being denied places in top classes even though they had earned their place ahead of Muslim Malay counterparts.

"If a non-Muslim child does well, he or she will be in the third class," he said.

Siva said ethnic segregation was being practiced in 125 primary schools and 75 secondary schools. There are 5,395 primary schools and 1,465 secondary schools in the country.

"We must oppose any plan to divide students according to race. Ethnic segregation threatens racial integration in Malaysia," he said.

Education is a sensitive subject in Malaysia. Under a 30-year-old affirmative action programme, universities reserve 55 percent of places for Malays. There is a 35 percent quota for ethnic Chinese and 10 percent for ethnic Indians.

Malays and other indigenous groups are also given economic and other benefits to help narrow the wealth gap with members of the Chinese community.

Not government policy

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said authorities would investigate the allegation, adding that it was not the policy of the government to segregate students based on race.

"As you know we have tried our level best to bring the different races together particularly when they are young," he was quoted as saying by The Sun newspaper today.

"Maybe there were some officers who planned it for their own convenience."

Senator Zainal Rampak blasted the alleged segregation plan, saying the government was opposed to any action that threatened national unity.

"We condemn it. Authorities must look into it. I believe it is being done without government knowledge," he said.

Parents have been letting their feelings known on the subject in letters to newspapers.

"We have already come so far by integrating our races all these years," said Farrah Tan in a letter published by The Star newspaper.

"Yet, the very core factor of civilisation is being used as a tool for separation of the races - education.

Encouraged to mingle

"There is no use for the government to tell adults to be nice to their neighbours ... when as kids they are taught to think that you are Chinese, or Malay or Indian and you should stick to your kind."

Tan said children from different ethnic groups should be encouraged to mingle at school and learn from one another.

The Malaysian Indian Congress, an ally of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, highlighted the practice last week, alleging that top classes were reserved for Malay students.

The NUTP's Siva said some Chinese parents were now choosing to transfer their children to Chinese-language schools.

"The future of our nation will be in chaos if the policy segregation is allowed to continue," another parent said in The Sun newspaper.

The parent complained that his son was among the top 30 students in year one but was relegated to the third class in year two.

"The (segregation) policy was to enable students to be taught subjects like morals or Islam without having to move them from one class to another," the parent quoted one teacher as saying.

Education Minister Musa Muhamad has denied knowledge of the problem but has ordered his ministry to investigate.