Unlike the US where sports teams are elite, Malaysia mandates co-curricular participation for graduation. Every student must join .

However, this harmony is fragile. Vernacular schools (SJKC/SJKT) are often accused of "segregating" students. Politically, the education system is a lightning rod for debates on language rights and equality. A student who only speaks Mandarin in SJKC may struggle socially in a Malay-majority university dorm later.