Perkasa told to take UEC matter to court if gov't caves to demands

Malay rights group Perkasa should take the matter of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) to court should the government press ahead to recognise the certificate, said participants at its round table today.

“The round table rejects recognition of UEC and urges the government and Education and Higher Education Ministries to officially and definitively reject calls to recognise it.

“We have also come to a decision to urge Perkasa to bring the matter to court to cancel any efforts by the government to recognise it,” said Perkasa education bureau chairperson Sirajudin Mohd Salleh.

“The government must take into account the federal constitution and our laws, as well as the country's sovereignty in making such a decision,” he said.

Perkasa has been at the forefront of opposing calls by the Chinese community to recognise the Chinese school certificate, that is accepted in universities abroad but not in Malaysia.

Sirajudin also claimed recognising the UEC would have adverse effects on national unity and the country's sovereignty.

The Perkasa vice president further claimed the UEC went against article 152(1) of the federal constitution - which stipulates that Bahasa Malaysia is the national language – because its curriculum is in Mandarin.

The use of Mandarin, he added, was also contrary to the national education policy which requires Bahasa Malaysia to be used as the medium of instruction.

"It would be illogical and senseless to sacrifice our national education policy, which had existed since independence, for the sake of political and racial interests as well as votes," he said.

Crowding out 'loyal Chinese'

Among other panellists present at the round table were Persatuan Penulis National (Pena) president Salleh Rahmad, National Professors Council education and human development cluster chief Zakaria Kasa, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Insitute of Ethnic Studies fellow Teo Kok Seong and lawyer Adnan Seman.

Teo urged parents not to send their children to Chinese independent schools that use the UEC system.

He also spoke against recognising the UEC, stating it would make entry into public varsities more difficult.

"We know that places in public universities are limited, particularly in critical fields such as medicine, information technology and law.

"If UEC holders are also admitted (into public universities), they would take away the quota of 'loyal' Chinese.

"The Chinese community needs to know that if UEC is recognised, they would lose out as the places in public universities are limited.

"So, they should reject (UEC)," he said. -Mkini