Legal Profession Qualifying Board urged to recognise UEC

Wong (centre) speaking at the press conference with Kuok on his left and Lau on his right.

 

SIBU: The Legal Profession Qualifying Board is being urged to reconsider its decision to not recognise the United Examination Certificate (UEC) as a qualification equivalent to SPM and STPM for candidates sitting for the Certificate of Legal Practice (CLP) examination.

The board made the decision on Sept 23, 2005 but would only formally implement it next year.

At a press conference on Saturday, Dudong SUPP chairman Wong Ching Yong said this decision would affect a lot of law students with UEC qualification.

“A representative from Brickfields Asia College confirmed that they received an official letter from the board last Thursday.

“The rep was concerned about the decision because it affected the students there.

“The college was also of the view that the board did not give advance notice,” he said.

As for Dudong SUPP’s stand on the matter, he said the board’s decision was “unfair and prejudiced”.

The decision to not recognise UEC as a qualification equivalent to sit for CLP, he said, was against the policy of the Sarawak goverment which fully recognised the UEC in 2012.

Advocates Association of Sarawak Sibu chairman David Kuok wanted the board to explain the reason for its decision.

“Most of us do not understand the reason why the board had decided that UEC would no longer be recognised as a qualification equivalent to SPM and STPM for candidates to sit for the CLP.

“The Board must explain clearly why the decision was made 12 years ago,” he said.

He said many candidates of CLP with UEC qualification had successfully completed the exam and become qualified lawyers.

He added that he would bring the matter up at its state body meeting on Dec 17 to fight the decision.

Association secretary Peter Lau said with the board’s decision, even if a person has a master’s or PhD in law, he would not be able to sit for the CLP if he is an UEC graduate.

He concurred with Wong and Kuok that the board should reconsider its decision on the matter.