Madani labelled as “traitor”, using diversion tactic by “hiding behind tahfiz to halal-nise UEC”

 

RIGHTISTS have hit out at the Madani administration for its betrayal to the national education system by subtly recognising public university entry of Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) holders “alongside tahfiz (religious school) school leavers who already sat for SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia)”.

“If this is true, DAP is great in the Madani government but what about UMNO?” jibed former UMNO warlord Tan Sri Annuar Musa with reference to a Berita Harian report that “tahfiz and UEC school leavers are now accepted to IPTA (public universities)”.

“What is the point of trying to tie-up tahfiz with UEC when the latter’s entry route is already via the SPM exam?” the now PAS central committee member and senior strategist reacted in a Facebook post.

A browse at the comment section of Berita Harian Online and Buletin TV3 revealed anger with netizens slamming the Madani government as “traitor” by using tahfiz “to halal-nise” UEC’s recognition.

‘Madani magic show’

For context, the Cabinet has yesterday (May 14) approved a new alternative entry pathway for pupils from religious schools, private schools and Chinese independent secondary schools into the nation’s IPTAs.

In a statement, the Higher Education Ministry announced that the decision creates clearer and more inclusive access for students from outside the national education system, including UEC holders.

Under the new framework, two distinct pathways are now available:

• Students from these streams who possess a full SPM certificate may apply for any study programme offered through the standard UPUOnline system. Their applications will be considered based on merit alongside all other candidates subject to meeting the general and specific programme requirements.
• For those without a full SPM but have passed the SPM papers for Bahasa Melayu and History, a new pathway has been created for them to apply to a specific list of relevant degree and diploma programmes.

For religious and tahfiz school graduates under this second pathway, the identified programmes include studies in Dakwah (Islamic Outreach), Al-Quran and As-Sunnah and Tahfiz Education.

Meanwhile, the available courses for graduates of Chinese independent secondary schools focus on Chinese language and cultural studies such as a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Language Studies and a Bachelor of Chinese Language and Linguistics.

PAS information chief Fadhli Shaari described the entire exercise as “a sheer Madani government magic show”.

“Since when has the tahfiz stream been problematic for IPTA entry?” the Pasir Mas MP mocked in a FB post.

All this time, those who follow the tahfiz stream have taken the SPM just like other (national school) pupils and entered IPTA/IPTS (private universities) without any problems.

Why is there a need to issue a statement specifically mentioning these tahfiz graduates? Just admit it, the announcement is meant for UEC only. The magic show is unnecessary. This is truly Madani.

In fact, quite a few commenters also cited the view of national education critic Dr Anuar Ahmad that “clearly UEC violates (i) Article 152 of the Malaysian Constitution; (ii) the National Language Act 1963/67; and (iii) Education Act 1996″.

“That’s why, for more than 50 years since 1975, the push to recognise the UEC has only been done through  political channels,” lamented the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) senior lecturer/educational sociologist.

The strategy is push-negotiate-silently … At times when the rakyat’s support to the ruling government is weak, their push (UEC advocates) becomes more intense.

Strangely, there are also political leaders who say “we can discuss”, “we can negotiate” to recognise the UEC.

How can we discuss if the UEC clearly does not follow the supremacy of the constitution?

• The main medium of instruction of the UEC is not Bahasa Melayu;
• The UEC curriculum is not the national curriculum;
• The UEC examination is not the national examination; and
• The UEC teachers are not IPGM (Institute of Teacher Education Malaysa)-trained.” –  Focus Malaysia