41,133 Malay students enrolled in SJKCs this year

PETALING JAYA: Some 41,133 Malay students were enrolled in Chinese vernacular primary schools (SJKCs) nationwide as of May 31, says education minister Fadhlina Sidek.

Fadhlina said this comprised 9.01% of the total number of students enrolled in SJKCs across the country, reflecting a continuous rising trend of Malay student enrollments.

In 2020, 34,870 Malay students were enrolled in SJKCs, comprising 6.84% of total enrolments, she said.

“In 2023, there were 35,129 Malay students enrolled (6.99%), followed by 39,373 (8.03%) in 2024 and 40,035 (8.59%) in 2025,” she said in a written parliamentary reply.

Fadhlina said Tamil vernacular primary schools (SJKTs) saw a more gradual increase in Malay student enrollments, rising from 227 (0.26%) in 2022 to 241 (0.28%) in 2023; 288 (0.35%) in 2024; and 295 (0.37%) in 2025.

“As of May 31 this year, there were 320 Malay students, or 0.41% of total enrollments, recorded at SJKTs,” she added.

The minister was replying to Zakri Hassan (PN-Kangar) who asked for the number and percentage of Malay students studying at SJKCs and SJKTs over the past five years.