SHAH ALAM, Oct 30— The Selangor Industrial University (Unisel) will recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) from Chinese vernacular schools for entry qualification starting next year, Mentri Besar Azmin Ali announced today.

When tabling the state’s budget for next year, Azmin said the move is needed to counter the brain drain problem afflicting the country.

“The state government acknowledges the big role played by the Chinese-medium schools in human capital development.

“Beginning next year, Unisel will recognise the UEC certificate introduced by the United Chinese Schools Committee Association (Dong Zong).

He added that statistics show that up to 3,000 Chinese school students graduate with the certificate every year.

Azmin’s announcement comes after the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian announced last month that Sarawak will recognise the UEC in principle, as a qualification for entry into its civil service.

Chinese-based political parties in the country have long called for the recognition of the UEC, including those in Sabah, saying failure to do so contributes to the brain drain and promotes unequal representation in the civil service.

The UEC qualification is the equivalent of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).