Kuala Lumpur, Dec. 4 (ANI): The Malaysian Government’s decision to allow Indian students to take two additional subjects in the SPM examination has been welcomed by the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC).

MIC President S. Samy Vellu thanked Prime Minister Mohammad Najib Tun Razak and his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin for keeping the Indian community’s interests in mind, The Star Online reports.

According to the decision, students can now sit for the Tamil Language and Tamil Literature or Chinese and Chinese Literature examinations. However, the additional subjects will not be counted as part of the SPM results.

“The Indian community is extremely grateful,” MIC vice-president Dr S. Subramaniam said.

The National Tamil Schools Headmasters’ Council chairman, Doraisamy Perumal, said the decision showed flexibility and a step in the right direction.

“However, I’m sure that the Chinese and Tamil communities would be happier if the Government recognises mother tongue languages as core subjects, which contribute to one’s overall SPM result,” he said.

Meanwhile, among the Chinese community, the decision drew mixed reactions.

United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) deputy chairman Chow Siew Hon disagreed with the move, saying it served no purpose for students to take additional subjects when the results would only be based on ten subjects.

Students, he said, should be allowed to take as many subjects as they want, according to their capabilities in an open system. (ANI)