PETALING JAYA: The Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) has obtained an ISO 9001:2008 quality management certification from Malaysia, China, the United Kingdom and Japan, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA deputy president said UEC was accepted as entry qualifications by a majority of private colleges and universities in Malaysia.
“It is also accredited by more than 1,000 colleges and universities, both public and private, in countries such as the UK, United States, Australia, Japan, Singapore and China, which recognise UEC in study applications.
“While only Bahasa Malaysia is taught in the national language in the UEC curriculum, not all subjects are taught in Mandarin as claimed by Ismail Sabri,” he said on Saturday.
Dr Wee posted this on Facebook in response to Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, calling on the Umno vice-president to stop spreading misinformation and fact-check several of his statements related to the recognition of UEC.
He said Ismail Sabri’s recent statements showed his inadequate understanding of the discussion surrounding the subject.
“It also revealed his rather deep prejudice towards UEC and Chinese independent high schools.
“His statements did not paint an accurate picture, instead confused Malaysians with the wrong perception in relation to the recognition of UEC certification,” he said.
Citing examples, Dr Wee said the curriculum of Chinese independent high schools and the UEC examinations were arranged by the United Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Jiao Zong), not the administration of the respective Chinese vernacular schools as claimed by him.
In addition, Dr Wee said the UEC model was not from Taiwan and that the syllabus used was based on the standard subjects issued by the Education Ministry.
“For instance, the History subject includes the history of the Malacca Malay sultanate, Malaya independence and the formation of Malaysia, and the content of Geography as a subject is based on the Malaysian context,” he said.
Dr Wee reminded Ismail Sabri that the recognition of UEC was also part of the Barisan Nasional election manifesto.
“If Malays are really against UEC’s recognition, how is it that Pakatan Harapan, which recognised the certificate in its election manifesto, was able to win the support of various races in GE14?” he asked.
He said the recognition of UEC would not threaten the status of Bahasa Malaysia as the national language, adding that UEC students must also fulfil the criterion of at least a credit in Bahasa Malaysia in SPM.
“The multi-stream education system is not a barrier to national unity as there are now more non-Chinese students attending national-type Chinese schools (SJKC) and Chinese independent secondary schools (SMPC).
“SJKC and SMPC, which are part of the multi-stream education system in this country, have no intention and desire to take over the main national education system in Malaysia, not today or forever,” he said.
Dr Wee also threw a challenge to Pakatan, asking the new Govern-ment if it had the “political will” and if it was ready to do what it had promised to recognise UEC, now that it had the people’s mandate.
