Isn’t it misplaced emotion to boycott 99 Speedmart just because grocery chain recognises UEC?

 

99 SPEEDMART – the fuss-free convenience store chain renowned for its unbeatable value and absolute convenience – has apparently found itself in the line of fire by some rightist individuals for recruiting store managers who possess a Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) qualification.

This came about after an X user voiced concern that the neighbourhood store chain which currently recognises UEC, diploma and degree in its branch manager hiring might gradually shift to “solely recognising UEC” in its entire recruitment process.

The post was chanced upon by a self-proclaimed anti-racist who then accused 99 Speedmart for “creating a systematic racism”.

“UEC graduates can work as pengurus cawangan (branch manager) but STPM graduates can only work as cashier which amount to the same salary as SPM holders,” fumed Qeez (@qeezfiki) who also described himself as a thinker and anti-feminist.

“So, STPM graduates need another two to three years for diploma to hold the same position as UEC graduates.”

Editor’s Note: While UEC is not recognised for entry into Malaysian public universities or civil service, private sector businesses like 99 Speedmart do exercise their own discretion to accept it as equivalent to national or international school-leaving certificates.

It is learnt that current employees, including those in executive positions (such as human resources) are UEC graduates from Chinese independent schools.

Pitted against the national level UEC flare-up with the UEC recognition issue now a hot potato after being grossly politicised, one can understand why rightist groups felt threatened by the UEC recognition.

“They have been doing the same shit using ‘Mandarin speaker’”, no bidet in mall and now pet-friendly mall. How long are we still tolerating (for) this in a Muslim majority country?” berated Qeez.

This was when a commenter mooted a boycott against the convenience store chain along with Burger King Malaysia & Singapore in which 99 Speedmart founder Lee Thiam Wah had reportedly bought the BK franchise (private ownership) in 2015 from Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas) for RM74.6 mil.

99 Speedmart founder Lee Thiam Wah (in wheelchair)

“An attempt to put UEC holders at par with university graduate,” he snubbed to which Qeez felt that “another Zionism needs to be boycotted in Malaysia, too, or bring back BMF (Buy Muslim First) … choose either one of it”.

While it is solely the prerogative of rightists to rally likeminded individuals into their fray, one wonders if such boycott call does smack short-sightedness for it overlooked the bigger picture.

Amid the spiralling cost of living, consumers these days are wise enough to draw the distinction between putting food on the table and ‘blindly’ stage a boycott against some unfounded concerns propagated by rightist politicians to derive political mileage.

Above all else, the boycott call is seemingly unlikely to shake nor cripple the convenience store chain which recently opened its 3,000th outlet in Bestari Jaya, Selangor as it continues to expand its nationwide network.

Moreover, its listed entity 99 Speed Mart Retail Holdings Bhd is equally faring well with its stock price having spiralled 121% from its initial public offering (IPO) price of RM1.65 based on yesterday’s closing price of RM3.65 which gave the company a market capitalisation of RM30.66 bil. –  Focus Malaysia