PETALING JAYA: Chinese educationist group Dong Zong said the recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) does not contradict government education policies, nor does it affect the status of Malay as the country’s national language.
This comes after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said any calls to recognise the UEC and other languages must take into account that Malay is the national language and that its position would continue to be defended and supported.
In a statement, it said Article 152 of the Federal Constitution, which enshrines Malay as the country’s official language, also guarantees the right to learn, use and teach other languages.
“The Prime Minister himself had previously said in 2018 that the recognition of UEC does not affect the country’s education policies and will not weaken the position of Malay as the national language.
“The claim that recognising UEC goes against the Constitution is baseless and confusing, as there have been no judicial challenges brought against the decision by Sabah and Sarawak to recognise UEC.
“If it does contradict the Constitution, why does the government allow other non-Malay tertiary education programmes such as the A-Levels and International Baccalaureate (IB) to be recognised in Malaysia?” it said yesterday.
Dong Zong also said the body has always respected Malay as the national language and has supported various initiatives by the government to strengthen the mastery of the language among the people.
“Mastery of the Malay language is the responsibility of every citizen, and Dong Zong has never disputed the position of Malay as the country’s national language,” it added.
Dong Zong said the Malay language is a compulsory subject in Chinese vernacular secondary schools, and the passing rate for students from such schools has exceeded 96% since 2022.
“We also agree with the government’s condition for excellent grades in the SPM Malay subject as a prerequisite for UEC recognition.”
The body has also worked closely with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka as well as formed a working group with Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia to improve the mastery of Malay among students in Chinese vernacular schools.
“Dong Zong calls for everyone to approach this issue respectfully and with an open mind, for the sake of improving the development of the country’s education so that students from all streams of education can live up to each of their potential, whether domestically or abroad, and can continue to contribute to Malaysia’s peace and harmony,” said the statement.
