‘UEC+2’ must not be mistaken as official UEC recognition, warns Sarawak Dong Zong

KUCHING (March 2): The Sarawak United Association of Chinese School Boards of Management (Dong Zong) has warned the ‘UEC+2’ proposal should not be mistaken for official recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), but a temporary federal admission arrangement.

Sarawak Dong Zong honorary chairman and advisor Temenggong Dato Vincent Lau and chairman Dato Sri Richard Wee both stressed that the proposal, which allows UEC holders who obtain a credit in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) Bahasa Melayu and a pass in History to enter public universities, did not amount to institutional recognition of the UEC.

“We must make it clear that this is not UEC recognition. It is only a technical admission arrangement set by the federal government,” they said at a Chinese New Year luncheon with See Hua Group media outlets at KTS Garden here yesterday.

Lau stressed there was a fundamental difference between a provisional admission mechanism and formal recognition of the UEC as an academic qualification.

“It does not resolve the fundamental issue of the UEC’s status. We cannot assume the system has changed simply because there appears to be some convenience at present,” he said.

Wee echoed the concern, pointing out that UEC recognition and university admission requirements were two separate matters.

“Allowing students to use UEC plus two SPM subjects does not mean the UEC is recognised. The distinction must be made clear,” he stressed.

Both leaders highlighted Sarawak’s proactive approach, noting that the state officially recognised the UEC as early as 2015 under the late chief minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, enabling holders to apply to state universities and, with a pass in SPM Malay, to join the Sarawak civil service.

Beginning this year, UEC holders may also enrol in state government-linked universities free of charge, with tuition fees handled through a state allocation mechanism.

They urged the federal government to emulate Sarawak’s policy, allowing UEC holders who pass SPM Malay to qualify for entry into public universities and for federal civil service appointments.

Moreover, Lau said he was concerned that Malaysia Dong Zong’s portrayal of the ‘UEC+2’ proposal as a breakthrough could create the impression that full UEC recognition had been achieved.

He cautioned that presenting temporary measures as major progress could mislead the public and weaken the collective momentum to pursue full recognition.

“If partial adjustments are described as breakthroughs, we must ask: where exactly is the breakthrough?”

Lau added that praising policy adjustments before genuine institutional recognition is achieved risks blurring the direction of the longstanding struggle.

“A truly rational appeal means maintaining a firm stance and speaking cautiously, not lowering one’s bottom line before institutional changes have taken place,” he said.

Lau stressed that Sarawak Dong Zong’s position was not to create confrontation but to safeguard principles.