KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 — The government has agreed today to maintain the existing minimum entry requirements for Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) holders seeking admission into medical programmes at private higher education institutions.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the decision was agreed to during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.
He said the decision is consistent with the government’s previous requirements and retains the same criteria that existed prior to any amendments.
Fahmi, who is also the unity government spokesman, said UEC holders who meet the minimum requirement of a ‘B4’ grade in five specified subjects remain eligible to apply for admission into medical degree programmes at private higher education institutions.
“The Cabinet agreed to maintain the minimum entry requirements for UEC holders intending to pursue medical programmes,” he said during a post-Cabinet media conference that was broadcast live today.
A B4 is the minimum UEC grade required in each of five compulsory subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics (or Advanced Mathematics I and II, or Advanced Mathematics).
Fahmi added that the Health Ministry and the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) will coordinate any administrative issues with the Higher Education Ministry to ensure the smooth implementation based on the decision.
He explained that the effort is intended to address any emerging issues.
“It is also to ensure that the standards and quality of medical education in the country, including at private higher education institutions, are upheld,” he said.
The UEC qualification remains unrecognised by the government as an entry qualification for admission to any public universities.
However, UEC holders remain eligible for direct admission into medical degree programmes (such as MBBS or MD) at private higher education institutions in Malaysia, provided they also meet SPM/UEC credit requirements for Bahasa Malaysia and English as mandated by MMC.
