'No compromise' - DAP's UEC push hits Akmal roadblock

Since its resounding defeat in the Sabah polls, DAP has pledged to push for reforms, with one key issue being the recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).

Unsurprisingly, opposition came swiftly from Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, who took it upon himself to give DAP deputy chairperson Nga Kor Ming a refresher on the nation’s education policy.

This was in response to Nga, who is also the housing and local government minister, stating that DAP would seek a meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim over UEC’s recognition.

Akmal “implored” Anwar not to recognise the UEC, but simultaneously warned that “we will not compromise” on this matter.

In a Facebook post, the Umno Youth chief said Nga, as a minister, should already be familiar with the country’s education policy.

“There are three (points). First is Bahasa Malaysia as the main medium of instruction, second is that the same national curriculum must be taught, and third, students must sit for the same examination.

“Whether you are aware, or pretending not to know, the UEC does not satisfy the aforementioned criteria… So how are we to recognise the examination?” he asked.

UEC’s long history in M’sia

Akmal added that if Nga is advocating for the education rights for others, it should be noted that the UEC has already been granted significant leeway.

He traced the evolution of policy regarding the UEC, beginning with Dr Mahathir Mohamad, then the education minister in 1975, who allowed the examination to proceed.

Akmal also noted that in 2004, during former premier Najib Abdul Razak’s administration, private higher education institutions were permitted to admit UEC holders.

READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | UEC: Are the criticisms justified?

This KiniGuide was first published in 2018.

Further, he said that since 2010, the UEC has been accepted for entry into the Bachelor of Education (Chinese Language) programme at the Teachers Training Institutes under the Education Ministry, and since 2019, for pursuing law degrees.

Addressing Nga directly, Akmal asked: “Do you know that Malaysia is the only country in the world which recognises the vernacular education system? Does Singapore recognise a different system? No.”

Immediate backlash

Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that Nga’s latest comments on the UEC reignited backlash against DAP, with accusations that the party is attempting to undermine the Malays.

His remarks were perceived on Malay social media as DAP pressuring Anwar, prompting a negative response.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke sought to reframe the UEC narrative as complementary to efforts to uphold the Malay language.

In an interview with the Chinese-language YouTube channel “The Keywords”, Loke said the government would roll out a new policy within six months to strengthen all languages, which includes UEC recognition.

DAP’s Chinese supporters are pushing for UEC recognition to come “without any strings attached.”

The Pakatan Harapan manifesto for the last general election pledged that the coalition will continue “efforts to recognise UEC as a general requirement for public higher education institutes with the condition that applicants possess at least a credit in Bahasa Melayu for their SPM results”.

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