SUPP raises concern over SPM History requirement for UEC students, cites Najib-Dong Zong Consensus

SIBU (Feb 14): The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) has expressed concern over the federal government’s recent proposal requiring Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) students to also sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) History paper.

According to a statement from SUPP Central Publicity Secretariat, the party reiterated its full support for implementing the 2013 Najib-Dong Zong Consensus on UEC recognition, which allows UEC holders applying to public universities to meet only the Bahasa Malaysia requirement under SPM.

SUPP recalled that on April 1, 2013, then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak met with a six-member Dong Zong delegation led by Dr Yap Sin Tian at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya.

The agreement, described by SUPP as “the greatest highlight of the 2013 consensus”, stipulated that the UEC Bahasa Malaysia subject itself would serve as the benchmark, without the need for additional SPM results.

However, the consensus was never implemented, reportedly rejected by the then Education Minister.

SUPP criticised the current Pakatan Harapan-led government for deviating from this approach.

“Insisting that Chinese independent high school students sit for SPM History is completely unreasonable,” the party said, noting that history textbooks are already prepared and approved according to Ministry of Education requirements.

SUPP urged Dong Zong, under Datuk Tan Yew Sin, to continue advocating for genuine UEC recognition.

The party also called on Democratic Action Party (DAP) MPs to address the matter instead of remaining silent.

Citing Sarawak as a successful example, SUPP noted: “For more than 10 years, the UEC recognition policy in Sarawak has functioned smoothly with only a Credit in Bahasa Malaysia required, and no other conditions imposed.”