Various education groups have slammed Perkasa’s critical position on the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), urging the Malay rights group to adopt a more open-minded view of the UEC as a “proud Malaysian icon in global education”.

Last month, Perkasa urged the government against considering recognising the UEC, calling it a threat to the national education system, national unity, as well as Malaysia’s sovereignty.

“Perkasa’s rhetoric lacks wisdom and basic understanding of the intrinsic values of UEC.

“UEC as a Malaysian product has proven its potential value globally, it has become a proud Malaysian icon in global education,” said the various education groups which are part of the National Education Reform Initiative (Neri), in a statement.

The groups criticised Perkasa’s “outdated” views and said Malaysia’s strength in a diverse and globalised world was its people’s ability to master multiple languages.

The UEC is a standardised examination conducted by leading Chinese education group Dong Zong (United School Committees Association of Malaysia) in the country's 60 Chinese independent secondary schools that use Mandarin as the medium of instruction.

The groups are Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia, Gabungan Persatuan Guru-Guru Sekolah Cina Malaysia, Cultural Development Centre  and the Tamil Foundation.

Neri members also include Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall, The Association Of Graduates From Universities and Colleges of China, Malaysia, Japan Graduates’ Association of Malaysia, Merdeka University Bhd, Centre for Malaysian Chinese Studies, MySkill Foundation and United Chinese School Alumni Associations of Malaysia.

The UEC has been used since 1975 and it assesses students on a curriculum that fully complies with government requirements, the statement said.

The certificate is recognised by many local private and foreign tertiary institutions but not by Malaysian public universities.

Putrajaya has expressed interest in recognising the certificate for entry into Malaysian public universities.