KUALA LUMPUR: More than 41,000 Malay students are currently enrolled in Chinese vernacular schools (SJKC), showing a steady upward trend over the past five years, says Fadhlina Sidek (pic).
The Education Minister said this reflects a steady increase from 34,870 students (6.84%) in 2022, 35,129 (6.99%) in 2023, 39,373 (8.03%) in 2024 and 40,035 (8.59%) in 2025.
"As of 31 May 2026, 41,133 Malay students, or 9.01% of total SJKC enrolment, were recorded as studying in these schools," she said in a parliamentary written reply to a question from Zakri Hassan (PN-Kangar).
Zakri had asked the Education Ministry to state the number and percentage of Malay students currently studying in Chinese vernacular schools (SJKC) and Tamil vernacular schools (SJKT) over the past five years.
For Tamil vernacular schools (SJKT), Fadhlina said the number of Malay pupils also increased, although at a much smaller scale, from 227 students (0.26%) in 2022 to 320 students (0.41%) as of May 31, 2026.
"As of 31 May 2026, 320 Malay students, or 0.41%, were recorded studying in SJKT," she said.
