PETALING JAYA: Every Cabinet decision is a collective one, and it is irresponsible to label the Higher Education Ministry as being “slow” on the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) implementation, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
The Higher Education Minister was responding to remarks by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming regarding the implementation of the Cabinet’s decision to allow holders of the UEC to gain admission into public universities.
Nga reportedly said in a speech at an event yesterday that the Higher Education Ministry deliberately delayed the entry of qualified UEC candidates into public universities, making the implementation progress as “slow as a tortoise”.
Zambry criticised Nga, calling his comments inappropriate and stressed that all Cabinet decisions are made collectively and require proper follow-up involving multiple ministries and agencies.
“I wish to emphasise that every decision approved by the Cabinet is a collective decision based on the principle of collective responsibility.
“It will be followed up through a comprehensive process involving coordination with the Education Ministry and other relevant agencies.
“If there are any differences in opinion, the appropriate platform to discuss them is at the Cabinet meeting,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Zambry added that publicly criticising fellow ministers does not reflect the spirit of collective Cabinet governance or established government procedures.
Higher Education director-general Datuk Prof Dr Azlinda Azman previously said holders of the UEC, tahfiz graduates and students from other non-mainstream education streams can apply to public universities through two separate admission pathways.
The first pathway, she said, is for students from UEC, tahfiz or private school backgrounds who also possess a complete Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia certificate.
“These students may continue applying through the existing UPU Online system, and will be assessed based on SPM merit, programme requirements and university criteria,” she said.
