UEC remarks: Sensitivities of all races will be considered, clarifies PM
Dr Mahathir Mohamad has clarified a news report quoting him on the government's recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) which ignited an uproar in the Chinese community.
The prime minister said the sensitivities of all races, and not just the Malays, must be considered before the government could recognise the UEC...
Dr Mahathir Mohamad has clarified a news report quoting him on the government's recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) which ignited an uproar in the Chinese community.
The prime minister said the sensitivities of all races, and not just the Malays, must be considered before the government could recognise the UEC.
He was commenting on a recent interview with Sin Chew Daily titled “Mahathir: The recognition of UEC needs to consider the feelings of Malays.”
In an attempt to set the record straight, the Prime Minister’s Office has since produced an audio recording of the interview.
Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon, Mahathir indirectly chided the newspaper over the article.
“Newspapers always ask me for interviews and I have never turned them down. But sometimes, I find that these reports do not reflect what I say.
“Regarding the recognition of the UEC, I did not say I will 'tolak' (reject).
“All I said was there are certain sensitivities among the Malays, and we must take into account all sensitivities - including the Chinese, Indians, Orang Asli and other ethnic groups in Malaysia.
“If I say the Malays are sensitive about something, this does not mean other people are not sensitive about it and (this does not mean) I am not sensitive to others.
“I hope the press will report based on the truth, even though we have tried to abolish the Fake News Act 2018, we have failed because we did not get support from senators from opposition parties,” he added.
Based on the audio recording of the interview, Mahathir said the government would recognise the UEC “to the extent that we can”.
However, he stressed that bridging the economic gap between the races was more important.
“Ya, I think we recognise it (UEC) to the extent that we can.
“Look, there are differences – one of the worst differences is the disparity in the distribution of wealth in this country that we have tried to correct. I admit many of the faults are with the Malays but this one (economic disparity) you don't correct, and you are always correcting this one only (UEC).
“This one is very simple for you to correct – the language or UEC or whatever. That is very simple. That is a stroke of the pen and it is done. But to bring the three races in Malaysia, plus the bumiputera in Sabah and Sarawak, to the same (level of) economic development, takes time,” he said.
Mahathir also admitted during the interview that Pakatan Harapan's aim to win more Malay support made it difficult for the government to fulfil its election promise to recognise the UEC.
“Ya, but we try to meet (the promises), it is not that we don't,” he said.
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