The release of an annual data on the ethnic groups' academic performance indicated that Malays are lagging behind others and perpetuated stereotypes, argued speakers at a Workers' Party forum on Sunday. The issue on whether the release of educational performance data by race would lead to racial stereotyping was also raised in Parliament last November by [SMU Assistant Professor of Law and] NMP Eugene Tan. Then, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education Hawazi Daipi said that self-help groups and community leaders welcome the data as it helps them assess their programmes and come up with new activities.