MARCH 26 — Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM), a non-partisan, Malaysian coalition of NGOs, is saddened to note that our government still refuses to grant recognition to a Malaysian achievement that has received world-wide recognition.

It is a matter of pride for our country to have the Malaysian Independent Chinese Secondary School Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) accepted for university entrance by most of the universities throughout the world, including Oxford University and the National University of Singapore whose standards are world renowned.

The Malaysian Independent Chinese Secondary School Unified Examination is conducted for students of 60 independent Chinese Secondary School since 1970s. These 60 Independent Schools do not receive a single cent as annual allocation from the government of this country. Yet, it should be noted, the management of these schools has successfully established an examination system that has won world recognition.

In fact, the UEC certificate is accepted for admission by our local private universities as well. Nay, the UEC holders can apply for loan from PTPTPN. Those UEC holders who scored distinction in Bahasa Malaysia and 3 other subjects could qualify for admission to teachers training colleges in this country. It is only the public universities of this country that refuse to recognize the UEC.

Yet, yesterday, the second minister for education, Datuk Idris Jusoh told Parliament that the UEC was not recognised for two reasons: UEC does not follow the national educational system, and its standard is not similar to the national curriculum for SPM and STPM.

If the UEC is so low in the esteem of the second minister of education, why allow the students who hold UEC to get PTPTPN loan and allow them to qualify for admission to teachers training colleges?

Worse still, is the second minister telling us that the private universities of this country can admit students holding UEC certificate which according to him is not of the standard of SPM and STPM?

We would like to remind the government that before the 13th General Election, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak had given his promise to the Chinese community to resolve the issue of non-recognition of UEC. It is regretted to note that no sincere and substantive follow up and fruition on this issue.

It is plain for all to see the standing of the UEC. GBM is convinced that it is the jaundiced eye of the policy makers in the Ministry of Education that refuses to see what the rest of the world sees in the UEC.

GBM calls upon the government to prepare itself to meet the stakeholders with a view to reviewing its attitude towards UEC and grant recognition to UEC, which the world has already done.

Issued by the Executive Council of GBM

List of GBM Organisation Members endorsing the statement:

1)    Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)

2)    Tamil Foundation

3)    Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall (NSCAH)

4)    Penang Chinese Town Hall (PGCTH)

5)    Lim Lian Geok Cultural Development Centre (LLG)

6)    United Chinese School Alumni Association of Malaysia (UCSAAM)

7)    Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)

8)    Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat (KOMAS)

9)    Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan (Permas)

10)  National Indian Rights Action Team (NIAT)

11)  Anak Muda Sarawak (AMS)

12)  Partners in Community Organising (Pacos Trust)

13)  Persatuan Bekas Siswazah Universiti dan Kelej di China, Malaysia (Liu-Hua)

14)  Nanyang University Alumni Malaya (Nanda)

15)  Japan Graduates Association, Malayia (JAGAM)

16)  Gabungan Persatuan Alumni Uniersiti Taiwan Malaysia (GPAUTM)

**This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.