The federal government should follow the example set by the Malacca state government to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) as a formal qualification, says a DAP lawmaker.

Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong welcomed a recent announcement by Malacca Chief Minister Adly Zahari that the state government will recognise the UEC as a qualification to enter the state’s civil service.

In a statement today, Khoo noted that the policy could even be extended to other areas such as education and state-owned companies in the near future.

He also emphasised that the Harapan state government has done more for the UEC in two months what BN and MCA have failed to do in 60 years, and urged the federal government to do the same.

"At the federal level, I urge the government to follow suit and take immediate steps to also recognise the UEC.

"In the Harapan manifesto, we have pledged to recognise the UEC to be equivalent to the existing general qualification for entry into public institutions of higher learning," his statement read.

The UEC, which is issued to graduates of Chinese independent high schools, is recognised by local private higher education institutions and many universities overseas, as well as the Sarawak government.

Khoo also said that the state government's announcement as a progressive step towards recognising quality education as the UEC is widely recognised in leading universities around the world.

"Recognising it as part of the civil service entry will increase the talent pool for the state government.”