School life in Malaysia is defined by its diversity and discipline: Multiculturalism:

This is where the system gets uniquely Malaysian. There are two types of primary schools:

Preparation for tertiary level, such as Form 6 (STPM), matriculation, or foundation programs.

The ultimate goal is : the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). Comparable to the British O-Levels, the SPM is the single most defining event in a Malaysian student’s life. Your SPM slip dictates whether you go to university, a matriculation college, or a polytechnic.