Prime Minister Najib Razak has urged vernacular schools not to be ungrateful as their existence was due to the support given to them by the ruling parties.

"One decision made which reflects our excellent and liberal attitude is to allow parents to choose the school and medium for their children.

"It was a decision made by the founders of our nation (and effective) since the achievement of Independence.

"The Alliance (now BN) leaders at the time made the decision. Leaders of the other parties opposed it."

It was because of this decision that national-type Chinese and Tamil schools existed to this day, Najib said at a meet-the-people session at Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Keat Hwa 1 near Alor Setar which was celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Camera: Tan Jiun Wuu