MCA president Wee Ka Siong is not optimistic the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) will be recognised by Pakatan Harapan, especially with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad now serving as acting education minister.
“I am cautious about Dr Mahathir becoming the acting education minister, we all know he wields the power.
“I believe that his dialogues with the Chinese community will also be limited. Dr Mahathir is not so willing to listen to others,” he told the Chinese press in a recent interview.
Although PH promised to recognise the UEC – an examination certificate from independent secondary Chinese schools – in its election manifesto, it has yet to do so, despite being in power for 20 months.
Former education minister Dr Maszlee Malik set up a task force to advise the ministry in this area but he stepped down earlier this month, before receiving the final report.
The task force now plans to submit the report to Dr Mahathir.
Wee also hit out at DAP for failing to protect the interests of Chinese education.
He said Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching, who is from DAP, is incapable of performing checks and balances in the ministry, and just adhered to Maszlee’s decisions.
Teo wouldn’t dare speak up against Dr Mahathir, who is now helming the education portfolio, Wee said.
“DAP may not represent the Chinese, but it was supported by the Chinese before it became the ruling party,” said the Ayer Hitam MP.
“Obviously, now there is less room for negotiation and recognition of the UEC. I am not optimistic.”
Looking back, he said, Dr Mahathir previously refused to recognise the UEC despite negotiating with Dong Zong during his previous spell as education minister in 1975.
Even now, the prime minister lambasted the Chinese education group for being racist, Wee said.
He said the government’s commitment towards recognising the UEC is mere pretence, especially with the conditions imposed, such as making history a mandatory passing subject.
Wee believes that there will also be changes to the government’s plans to relocate six vernacular schools and plans to build 10 new primary schools.
Maszlee previously said the construction of two schools will go on, while eight others reviewed based on the government’s capabilities.
MCA gives new friend PAS the thumbs-up
MCA has no issues working with PAS to battle Pakatan Harapan in the next general election but the Islamist party joining Barisan Nasional is unlikely, said Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA president said his party will work with PAS under the current arrangement as long as there is no threat to the spirit of pluralism, as espoused in the federal constitution.
He was referring to the muafakat nasional pact, a tie-up formalised between Umno and PAS.
“I told Umno that MCA can work with PAS. However, if PAS goes against the constitution, then MCA will step in to defend it.
“This is a plural and moderate society guided by the federal constitution,” he said recently.
PAS itself is not keen to join BN, which comprises Umno, MIC and MCA, Wee said.
MCA has also shown that it can work with PAS, as seen in the Tg Piai by-election, he added.
In that by-election, MCA’s Wee Jeck Seng defeated the PH candidate to wrest back the seat for BN. PAS, which had contested for the seat in the last general election, campaigned for MCA and Jeck Seng.
“Although Jeck Seng was not in favour of the hudud bill introduced by PAS prior to the last general election, PAS did not take that to heart and continued to campaign for him in the by-election.
“PAS also represents another Muslim voice for the opposition bloc in Parliament.”
He said PAS also worked with BN to expose Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub’s request to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to award RM1.4 billion in contracts to the National Farmers’ Association. – January 28, 2020.
Umno more respectful now, says MCA chief
BARISAN Nasional has learnt its lessons from past failures, especially its humbling defeat in the last general election, and is now looking at a more modest approach to regain popular support, Wee Ka Siong said.
The MCA president said the three remaining BN partners – Umno, MCA and MIC – have also re-evaluated their moves and are exercising caution when making statements that could harm friends in the coalition.
He said Umno, long identified as the “big brother” in the pact, have also started better respecting the principle of equality among the three partners.
After it was unseated in the 14th general election, BN was left with only three parties after 11 other component parties exited the coalition.
“Umno knows that it is not the ruling party anymore. It cherishes the cooperation and friendly ties with parties in the alliance.
“It would be a shame if it was to be separate today. In other words, that would put an end to the cooperation between interracial political parties,” he told the Chinese media in a recent interview.
Wee also said that discussions among the three parties are healthy, adding that BN was not the only opposition party around, as Gabungan Parti Sarawak remains in East Malaysia, and PAS as well.
After the GE14 defeat, MCA was among the first to moot leaving BN. However, the party chose to remain in the pact, and is now looking forward to regaining lost ground in the next general election.
Umno, meanwhile, has forged an official tie-up with PAS, aimed at drawing in Malay support.
In the Tg Piai by-election, MCA, Umno and PAS, along with MIC, all worked together to ensure a healthy win for the Chinese party.
Wee, who is also Ayer Hitam MP, said while there might still be disagreements between them, Umo and MCA are able to iron out their differences through discussions.
He said the BN parties are now more open with one another, with some leaders exercising more restraint when it comes to criticising or meddling in others’ affairs.
“This is very rare. I started serving as MCA president after BN’s loss. I will not deny that Umno, MCA and MIC are now more frank when discussing issues.
“When some leaders make statements, we call each other to find out if there is a problem with the remarks made,” he said.
“When Umno was still in power, it was difficult for you to control a certain district leader from making statements that could cause us to lose votes.
“In today’s Barisan Nasional, the other party will be consulted before a leader makes a statement,” he said.
He said Umno and PAS have also stood by him in Parliament.
“They will say that, this is a Chinese issue so let MCA speak. It is rare and valuable. Today’s BN cherishes multiple voices.”
THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
All those donkey years MCA was in power, how is it they couldn't solve this problem? Compare 35 yrs ago when this problem arose and the ball was in MCA's court. You expect Pakatan to solve it in 2 years plus?
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