Clarify UEC status, recognition, Chinese education stakeholders tells Putrajaya

KUCHING (Jan 22): Chinese education stakeholders are calling on the federal government to take a clear and definitive position on the status and recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).

The president of the United Association of the Boards of Management of Aided Chinese Primary Schools of Sarawak, Dato Chai Voon Tok, said stakeholders are seeking a conclusive answer on whether the UEC will be formally recognised for entry into the civil service and public universities, or whether it will continue to exist in a state of policy uncertainty.

“The federal government must clearly state whether the UEC is academically equivalent to Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), and on what objective, transparent and academically defensible criteria such determinations are made,” he told The Borneo Post.

Chai warned that without such clarity, policy measures risk being perceived as mere administrative compliance rather than meaningful education reform.

He pointed out that Sarawak has already taken a clear policy stance by recognising the UEC for employment in the Sarawak civil service, demonstrating that such recognition is both workable and feasible within Malaysia’s constitutional and education framework.

“As such, stakeholders strongly urge the federal government to emulate Sarawak’s approach, which is characterised by clarity, decisiveness and respect for educational diversity,” he said.

From an academic standpoint, Chai noted that the UEC is recognised by many reputable local private institutions and international universities for its rigour, particularly in Mathematics, Science and language proficiency.

He said continued hesitation at the federal level raises questions as to whether the issue is one of academic standards or policy and political consistency.

“If the UEC is deemed academically inadequate, the government should state so explicitly and provide evidence-based justification.

“Conversely, if its academic standard is acknowledged, continued non-recognition becomes increasingly difficult to justify,” he said.

On implementation, Chai cautioned that UEC students follow a distinct curriculum and assessment pathway, and many may not be prepared for SPM-style examinations without proper support.

He said any transition must include sufficient lead time, bridging programmes, teacher training and clear assessment guidelines to ensure fairness.

“Chinese education stakeholders are calling not for incremental adjustments, but for a clear, final and principled federal policy decision on the status of the UEC,” he noted.

Chai added that Sarawak has already demonstrated that such clarity is possible, and the Federal government should now show similar resolve to resolve this long-standing issue in a transparent, consistent and credible manner.

He made these remarks following the recent announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that all education streams, including UEC, international and religious schools, will be required to sit for Bahasa Melayu and History in the SPM examination.

“If the government’s objective is to address controversies related to the Malay language and entry requirements to public universities, clarity is essential.

“Requiring UEC students to sit for SPM Bahasa Melayu and History alone does not address the issue of equivalency,” he stressed.

He said the issue goes beyond examination requirements and touches on a long-standing policy ambiguity at the federal level.

“The concern among stakeholders is not about learning Bahasa Melayu or understanding Malaysian history, which he said are widely accepted and undisputed, but whether the federal government is prepared to provide a clear, consistent and unequivocal policy on UEC recognition,” he said.

“For decades, uncertainty surrounding the recognition of the UEC has remained unresolved.
Introducing additional examination requirements without first settling this fundamental question risks perpetuating ambiguity rather than resolving it.”