Kuala Lumpur, Jan. 14 : The Malaysian Government has been asked to release the RM 50 million for Tamil schools under the 2009 Budget.

KLANG MP Charles Santiago made the appeal, the Malaysia Nanban and The Star reported.

He said the higher enrolment in Tamil schools had resulted in a shortage of classrooms. There was also a need to upgrade existing facilities in schools and quality of teaching, he said.

He said 370 Tamil schools out of the 523 were on private land and as such, they could not be converted into fully aided schools.

He said most of the schools would not have survived if they had not received funds from the private sector, public bodies and donors.

He said it was the government's responsibility to ensure that each child irrespective of race be given access to proper education and basic facilities. (ANI)