Former federal opposition leader Mark Latham has been criticised by Fairfield community leaders after he created a video and described the lack of English spoken in the area as "disgraceful".

In a video published on his Outsiders Facebook page titled 'What’s Gone Wrong With Australian Multiculturalism: Ethnic Enclaves in Fairfield', Mr Latham said 90 per cent of people he approached for comment declined due to language barriers.

“How can we have a proper cohesive, cooperative multicultural community if people don’t even speak the basic language of the nation,” he said in the video.

View photos Mr Latham posted the video to his Facebook page. Photo: Facebook / Mark Latham's Outsiders More

Mr Latham also said “ethnic enclaves” in Fairfield and Cabramatta indicated “genuine multiculturalism” was not happening.

“The evidence from the past, the community here is that people don’t get down to a place like Cabramatta, which is just a five-minute drive away, talk to the Asian community, get to know people, make friends across racial and ethnic and cultural boundaries. It’s not happening,” he said.

Latham asked Fairfield residents if they travel to Cabramatta, a five-minute drive away with a large Asian population.

A number of those interviewed said the drug problem in Cabramatta made it a less than desirable place to visit.

View photos Mr Latham attempted to interview a number of people on the streets of Fairfield. Photo: Facebook / Mark Latham's Outsiders More

Latham directed much of his anger about the topic at Labor’s Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen, the former mayor of Fairfield from 1998 to 1999.

“It’s a disgrace that Chris Bowen and others have allowed this to happen,” he said.

View photos Mr Latham's video has received over 600 comments. Photo: Facebook / Mark Latham's Outsiders More

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