MCA has claimed that DAP's allies Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Muhyiddin Yassin and Anwar Ibrahim were the obstacles to the recognition of the United Examination Certificate (UEC) when the trio were in the government.

Contrary to a DAP lawmaker's claim, MCA publicity spokesperson Ti Lian Ker said Umno under Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is willing to reconsider recognising the UEC.

In a media statement this morning, Ti said DAP should not speak on behalf of Bersatu as it did for PAS in the past.

“DAP has a habit of speaking on behalf of others, as if it is the boss and calling the shots.

“If that is the impression or projection DAP is trying to show to the Chinese voters, the truth is far from reality,” he added.

Ti was responding to Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching (photo), who claimed that Umno was the biggest stumbling block to the UEC and urged the MCA man to “look into the mirror” before training his guns on DAP.

Teo also said the UEC has been recognised in the Pakatan Harapan-governed states of Penang and Selangor while BN-controlled states, apart from Sarawak, have not done so.

She also claimed that since the UEC recognition was included in the election manifesto of Harapan's predecessor Pakatan Rakyat, there is no reason to doubt its inclusion in the coalition's manifesto for the coming election.

However, Ti “advised” the DAP lawmaker to let Mahathir (photo), who is the Pakatan Harapan chairperson, to speak for himself on the recognition of the UEC.

“My question was directed at the man himself and the rakyat wants to hear from him if he has changed his mind or will he 'mudah lupa' (easily forget) when he assumes power in Putrajaya later?” he asked.

Ti also reminded Teo that Pakatan Rakyat is now defunct and all the promises in its Buku Jingga or GE13 election manifesto are, at present, considered a farce.

In his earlier commentary on the issue, which prompted Teo to respond, the MCA leader also referred to Muhyiddin's remarks on the UEC earlier this year.

On Jan 10, The Star and Malay Mail Online quoted Muhyiddin, who was the former education minister, as warning that Harapan should not be expected to recognise the UEC if it comes to power.

The reports were based on his interview with Sin Chew Daily.

His office later denied Muhyiddin had issued such a warning, claiming that he merely said that recognition for the UEC would depend on Malaysia’s education policy, which calls for the same curriculum and examination system to be used across the board.