KUCHING, Nov 25: There is no point for Sarawak to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) while the federal government continues to deny the globally recognised certification.
“What Sarawak can do is only a small part because education is still a federal matter; even though the state civil service recognises UEC, we are still somehow effected by it (the federal stance),” said Board of Management for Kuching Chung Hua Middle Schools (CHMS) No. 1, 3 and 4 chairman Datuk Richard Wee.
He said more concerted efforts from all is needed to achieve nationwide recognition of UEC, otherwise, it would always be politicised by opportunists or politicians, especially during elections.
Wee told DayakDaily that it is important for the country to move forward but those ‘shortsighted and narrow-minded’ people who categorically denied the importance of UEC are bringing problems to the country.
He was responding to the decision by the Legal Profession Qualifying Board not to recognise the UEC as equivalent to SPM or STPM and the statement by PERKASA president Ibrahim Ali who claimed he would declare war if UEC is recognised.
“This shortsighted way of thinking, narrow-minded people who do not think of anything else despite their own so-called Bumiputera issues.
“At this point of time all parties should be thinking of ways to bring the country forward, instead of sticking to the old way of thinking to have ‘my culture’ and languages without looking at things around the world,” he said.
Wee, who is also Federation of Chinese Associations in Kuching, Samarahan, Serian Division president, said the state government in their negotiation for MA63 rights, should negotiate for autonomy in education matters or for the state to have the authority to decide on expenditure involving education matters.
Deputy Education Minister Chong Sin Woon had said on numerous occasions that the government would recognise the UEC soon.
He said the ongoing process of getting the certificate fully recognised and accepted as an entry qualification to local universities was nearing fruition.
Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had pledged to continue to recognise UEC and provide financial aid to Chinese schools in the state, one of the key policies of his predecessor, the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem.
Recognising the UEC qualification of independent Chinese school students was one of the key policies which Adenan had stood up for. — DayakDaily
