YOURSAY | ‘Uni entrance scheme so politicised, any adjustments risk raising contention.’

Dong Zong hits out at conditions for UEC holders entering public uni

Zambry hits back at critics over UEC, tahfiz students’ entry into public varsities

BlueCougar1744: It is sad and pathetic that, year after year, recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) and access to higher education remain targets of radicalised discrimination.

This discrimination comes not only from the Education Ministry, but also from the wider government machinery through race supremacy, entitlement, and discriminatory practices against the UEC, and it never ends.

I suggest that the government allocate funding to build universities specifically for non-Malay students, since it appears almost taboo to accept non-Malay students into higher education institutions.

All non-Malay groups should come together to form a committee to raise funds to build universities, vocational institutes, and polytechnic colleges across every state, to bypass the never-ending bullying and intimidation.

If our government, Malay NGOs, religious bodies, and authorities believe this is the best approach, then so be it. Aspiring students should not be denied the opportunity to pursue higher education and become productive citizens who contribute to nation-building and serve various industries.

This would be a win-win situation for everyone.

The struggle for entry into public universities must come to an end to prevent a further deterioration of racial divides. We want to see positive change.

Come the 16th general election, let us see which party can come forward with solutions to bridge the divide and resolve the long-standing challenges faced by non-Malay students.

Malaysia’s diversity should be a blessing to the nation, but because of certain underlying agendas, it is increasingly being seen as a source of division. Let us face the reality and call a spade a spade.

OrangePanther1466: The real objective of this exercise is to provide a pathway for tahfiz students to pursue tertiary education.

The token recognition given to UEC students appears to be more of a public relations exercise aimed at creating the impression of a holistic and inclusive approach.

Are tahfiz school qualifications recognised internationally in the same way as the UEC? Perhaps they are, but likely only in the field of religious studies, unlike the UEC, which also covers Stem subjects.

Bornean: Dong Zong should be realistic. There is little indication that the federal government will recognise the UEC, regardless of which coalition is in power.

It may be more practical for Dong Zong to strengthen partnerships with universities in other countries to create more opportunities for UEC students, including offering full or partial scholarships.

At the same time, it may not be appropriate to expect Sarawak to absorb all UEC holders, especially as Sarawak and Sabah move towards greater autonomy in education.

BlueCougar1744: Politicians must be careful and avoid politicising education. If there are insufficient universities to cater for all, then more universities and centres of excellence should be built across all fields.

The nation’s future rests on all these young and aspiring students. We need to create a strong and fair platform for all students, regardless of background, to pursue the courses of their interest.

I am not sure how many of the current MPs and assemblypersons have actually achieved strong results in Form 5. It raises the question of whether they fully understand the importance of education in nation-building.

HJ Angus@ BlueCougar1744: The university entrance scheme has become so politicised that any so-called adjustments risk becoming further grounds for contention. Even the latest idea of requiring credits in History and BM at the SPM level appears, to some, to be discriminatory.

I suggest the Higher Education Ministry do away with unnecessary complications and instead administer a single public entrance examination for anyone above 16 to enter universities, similar to the entrance exam used in the 1950s for students entering Form 6.

Average citizen: If qualifications from international schools and foreign schools can be accepted for entry into local universities, then why is there such a big issue with accepting qualifications from locally established schools offering the UEC exam?

Some politicians appear to repeatedly sow discord and disunity for political gain, in order to secure votes and remain in power.

It raises the question of whether they truly care about the welfare of the country and its people.

WhiteMoose0037: Forget the public universities in Malaysia. Not worth the appeal and approach, as the government is afraid to appease a section of the community.

Enrol in Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) or any of the private universities, as the standards are higher than those of the public universities.

GE1G: Is this for real? DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke even praised the government for accepting the UEC qualification for these few selected courses. The government, especially Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and DAP, must think that UEC graduates and DAP supporters are fools.

Hello: With the acceptance of UEC for admission, although with the qualification of only certain restricted courses, the government can claim it has complied with the non-Malay push for recognition!

This government must think that the ethnic Chinese must have low IQ or that they are easily satisfied with crumbs thrown at them!

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