PETALING JAYA: The government is fine-tuning the entry requirements for students from Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), tahfiz and other non-mainstream education streams into universities, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the Cabinet had agreed in principle to recognise the UEC, provided students pass the Bahasa Melayu and History subjects in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.
"The Cabinet’s decision is that, on the condition that students pass SPM Bahasa Melayu and History, then we will provide some flexibility.
"Perhaps this may initially involve only several courses, because previously this matter was not agreed upon," he told reporters in Negri Sembilan on Friday (May 15).
Anwar said the move came after Chinese independent schools accepted the government’s conditions, adding that the same requirements would also apply to students from religious and international school streams.
"Now, when Chinese-stream schools accept this condition, we also welcome it positively. And this is not only applicable to the UEC.
"Arabic schools, tahfiz secondary schools and so on are all subject to the same conditions, including international schools involving Malaysian students – they must pass SPM Bahasa Melayu and History," he said.
He added that several details were still being refined before the policy is finalised.
"There are still several details being discussed," he said.
When asked to comment on claims linking the matter to politics, Anwar dismissed the criticism.
"In today’s world, everything is linked to politics," he said.
