From correspondents in Federal Territory, Malaysia, 01:30 PM IST

The Malaysian government has mooted setting up a foundation to promote Tamil schools, but says the Indian community should also chip in.

Deputy Minister in Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's department, T. Murugiah, Wednesday suggested the setting up of a foundation for the development of Tamil schools that will channel aid directly to the schools, Tamil Nesan newspaper said.

He said the responsibility for the development of Tamil schools was not the government's alone but also one that the Indian community should shoulder.

A working paper on the foundation, with a target of RM 100 million ($32 million approx) had recently been submitted to the prime minister.

He said there were currently 523 Tamil schools in the country and about 370 of them were receiving partial aid while the rest were fully-aided government schools.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)