We’re not silent on UEC, Sarawak DAP tells SUPP

DAP’s Dr Kelvin Yii says Pakatan Harapan is not backtracking in its promise to recognise the UEC.

KUALA LUMPUR: The DAP’s Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii has dismissed Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) secretary-general Sebastian Ting’s accusation that the DAP is keeping silent over the issue of recognition for the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).

He said in a statement today that the Sarawak DAP had “never been silent on this issue” and that it had been consistent in wanting official federal government recognition for the UEC.

In fact, last year, he said the federal government had set up a special committee to study and provide recommendations to the Cabinet with regard to the implementation of this policy.

The report is scheduled to be tabled in March for the deliberation of the Cabinet, he added.

He said the committee had gathered feedback from representatives of all races, including associations and organisations.

“As of now, the Cabinet has yet to receive the report from the committee and discussions have not been made so it’s not right to say that the UEC will not be recognised or even that the Chinese have been cheated again,” he said, adding that the SUPP and MCA had been part of the ruling BN government for decades but had failed to resolve the issue.

Later, when contacted, Yii said he did not believe that Pakatan Harapan was backtracking from its promise.

“DAP will continue to stand firm on the matter, and also help to educate others who misunderstand the issue as it is not an issue of race but rather of education,” he said.

According to him, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s statement of taking into account the feelings of all races does not mean that the government is backtracking on its promise in recognising UEC. He said people needed to be educated with regards to the UEC first.

“I read the transcript of the full interview with Mahathir and I found that he did not mention anything about not recognising UEC. Instead, he reaffirmed our commitment to fulfil what was promised,” the Sarawak DAP assistant secretary said.

It was earlier reported that Mahathir had said the government had to consider Malay sentiments and resolve the issue concerning unequal wealth distribution in the country before recognising UEC.

“Recognising UEC is easy, just sign. But we need time to bring two to three racial groups, including natives in Sabah and Sarawak, onto the same position of economic development,” he had said. -FMT