DAP man: BN, PN have no political will to recognise UEC due to racial policies

Michael Kong Feng Nian

KUCHING, Aug 8: Neither Barisan Nasional (BN) nor Perikatan Nasional (PN) have the political will to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) due to racial policies, asserts Michael Kong Feng Nian, special assistant to Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen.

According to his statement, history will show that the only coalition willing to work towards the recognition of UEC was Pakatan Harapan (PH), and this is due to its belief in a multi-racial country where people live in harmony with one another.

“A week ago, the Senior Minister of Education Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin publicly confirmed that the BN-led government will not recognise the UEC examinations.

“Not too long ago, PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin refused to commit to the recognition of UEC when he was the Prime Minister.

“This confirms that there is no political will on the part of BN nor PN to recognise UEC examinations at all,” he claimed.

Kong, who is also the DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) Kuching chief, expressed disappointment that despite the present federal government’s open rejection of UEC, no criticism or disappointment has been heard from any of the vocal Chinese educationalists or groups such as the Association of the Board of Management of Aided Chinese Primary Schools, Management Committee of Kuching Chung Hua Middle School Nos. 1, 3, and 4, and Sarawak Federation of Chinese Associations.

He added that even the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) is suddenly quiet on the issue.

“It is worth noting that these groups were previously taking every opportunity to lambast and chastise PH during its 22 months (as the federal government) for not immediately recognising UEC despite PH having already set up a special task force to study ways to implement the recognition of UEC harmoniously.

“As Malaysians, we must continue to push the PH agenda for a liberal and moderate society so that we can all look beyond the 3Rs; Race, Religion, and Region,” Kong stressed. — DayakDaily