UEC: Two UMNO Leaders, Two Realities & One Very Confused Nation

OPINION | UEC: Two UMNO Leaders, Two Realities & One Very Confused Nation


13 Dec 2025 • 8:30 AM MYT


Fa Abdul
FA ABDUL is a former columnist of Malaysiakini & Free Malaysia Today (FMT)

Photo credit: Sinar Daily


What is the purpose of education? To acquire knowledge. To sharpen the mind. To prepare a generation to compete in a world that doesn’t care about our petty politics. Simple, right?


Apparently not - if you look at how two UMNO leaders are talking about the UEC.


On one side, you have Mohamad Hasan, insisting the UEC can only be recognised if it is aligned with “national aspirations” - which, in his definition, means the medium of instruction must be in Bahasa Malaysia. The whole certificate must essentially transform itself into BM before anyone can even discuss recognition.


On the other side, you have Johari Abdul Ghani, politely reminding Malaysia to chill. He says people should be free to choose the education system they prefer, and we should respect that diversity instead of politicising everything. In his view, the UEC debate shouldn’t be about enforcing uniformity - it should be about understanding different pathways.


Two men from the same party. Two completely different universes.


The language obsession makes no sense


Let’s ask a basic question: If UEC graduates can speak Bahasa Malaysia fluently, doesn’t that already meet the goal of nation-building? Why must the entire qualification suddenly switch its medium of instruction?


The UEC exists because the Chinese community wanted instruction in Chinese. That’s literally the point. Demanding that UEC be taught in BM is like saying O-Levels and A-Levels should also be conducted in BM or Malaysia shouldn’t recognise them.



Well then, by that logic - no O-Levels, no A-Levels, no Australian matriculation, no Singapore A-Level equivalent, no degrees from UK, US, China, or anywhere else.


Because guess what? None of them are conducted in BM.


Yet Malaysia recognises foreign degrees from Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, NUS - all delivered in their own languages - without blinking. But suddenly UEC must be “pure BM” to be good enough?


That’s not national policy. That’s kampung mindset. Stone age edition.


Education isn't a Tool for insecurity politics


We’re living in a world that’s moving at lightning speed - AI, global markets, digital industries, multicultural talent pools. And here we are debating whether recognition should depend on the language the textbook was printed in.


Language alone has never magically created unity. Mutual respect does. Shared goals do. Opportunities do.



But every few years, the “Malay, Malay, Malay and nothing less” rhetoric resurfaces - loud, proud, and completely out of touch. It's ridiculous. It's annoying.


This obsession with linguistic purity has nothing to do with education and everything to do with insecurity.


Malaysia’s children deserve better than leaders trapped in a dark square room, clinging to old scripts while the rest of the world races ahead.


Two UMNO leaders, one big contradiction


While Johari says “Respect diverse education choices,” Mohamad says “Convert everything to BM or don’t even bother showing up.” One speaks like a leader preparing Malaysia for globalisation while the other sounds like he’s guarding a cultural museum.


And the rest of us? We’re left wondering which version of UMNO even represents the future.


If the real goal is unity, competitiveness, and progress, then we need to stop weaponising language and start focusing on what education actually means: knowledge, skills, and the ability to stand tall in the world.


Until then, the debate continues - not because Malaysians are confused, but because our leaders are.

“Stop pretending like it’s unimportant” – Rafizi Ramli Predicts Mandarin Could Overtake English as Top Language

“Stop pretending like it’s unimportant” – Rafizi Ramli Predicts Mandarin Could Overtake English as Top Language


Published 9 hours ago
December 13, 2025
By Azri Azizan

Source: Rafizi Ramli | Facebook


Former Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli weighed in on the debate over UEC recognition and shared his insights.

He stated that Malaysia should start preparing to become a trilingual society to keep pace with global developments, where Mandarin is playing an increasingly important role, and Malaysians cannot pretend it is insignificant.




Source: Rafizi Ramli | Facebook




“The world is moving towards the dominance of Mandarin as the language of knowledge and trade, and Malaysia’s younger generation needs to be prepared for this change. The country’s leadership needs to acknowledge that we are entering an era of a trilingual society.”

In his Yang Berhenti Menteri podcast, Rafizi said it is high time for younger generations in Malaysia to master three languages: Bahasa Melayu, Mandarin, and English.


He warned that in another 20 years, if Malaysians do not master Mandarin, they will face difficulties because the language will surpass English as the language of knowledge.


“Without mastery of Mandarin, we will be left behind in the next 20 years. This is the reality that needs to be accepted.”



Source: Rafizi Ramli | Facebook



Rafizi described the UEC issue as often used as “political dopamine” by various parties, making rational discussion impossible. He explained that only a small proportion of Chinese students in Malaysia take this exam. Out of 400,000 Chinese students in secondary schools, only about 90,000 take the UEC.


He also predicted that Mandarin would replace English as the new language of knowledge and that China would surpass the United States within 10 to 15 years to become the world’s largest economy and leading power.

“And that’s only about 20%,” said Rafizi


“Around 80 percent of Chinese students still go through the national system, while UEC is just a small stream that provides additional education opportunities in Mandarin.”

Yesterday (12 December), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim responded to the UEC recognition debate, saying that mastery of the national language, Bahasa Melayu, must be prioritised before any efforts to recognise UEC can be carried out.

The Question of DAP's boogeyman, vernacular schools and UEC recognition

OPINION | The Question of DAP's boogeyman, vernacular schools and UEC recognition


13 Dec 2025 • 7:30 AM MYT


Timothy
A Student who dabbles in the left side of politics

Minister of Housing and Local Government - Nga Kor Ming. Credit: Malaysiakini


After a humiliating loss for the Democratic Action Party (DAP) in the Sabah State Election, with reforms desperately needed, it seems the 'Red Faction' of the DAP has found its solution in 'bringing Chinese voters back into the fold' by pushing the contentious issue of UEC recognition. This move appears to be a strategic attempt to placate the concerns and the predispositions of the more chauvinistic members of our society by amplifying the party divisions, specifically between the chauvinistic red faction and the social democratic blue faction. To say I was shocked that the DAP had reverted to this issue was an understatement when I saw the post from Malaysiakini yesterday afternoon on my social media feed on the 10th of December; however, I was not surprised at who was spearheading this effort - Nga Kor Ming, the DAP deputy chairman and the minister for housing and local government. This is the wrong move for DAP, and I would highlight in this article three main points: Historical context up to the Sabah State Election, the reasons for my claim and the path forward for DAP.


Historical Context


This fight for UEC recognition ties into the larger issue of vernacular schools and their influence being so entrenched in our post-colonial society. When the British came to colonise our land of Nusantara, they very intelligently used the "divide and conquer" strategy to divide members of society. The term "divide and conquer" is a British term, which Merriam-Webster defines as "to make a group of people disagree and fight with one another so that they will not join together against one", and they did just that - not by class divisions because that would make it easy for the Malayans of the time rise against the British, but by racial divisions to weaken national harmony and pit people of the same socio-economic class that have more in common with each other, against each other, simply for having differing skin tones. See where I'm going with this? They primarily did this, especially in terms of education. An article by the Economic History of Malaysia states that the teachings of each school were "vernacular", and that each race created separate, ethnically-based school systems using languages and curricula to keep communities of Malaya apart. In the years leading up to independence and indeed after independence, the effects of colonisation reverberated, with those same effects still affecting us today. The vernacular education of the Indians has largely faded away, with the majority of them joining the better-funded public schools. However, there is still one community that holds on to its education so tightly to this day. The Chinese community understandably values the cultural and academic continuity offered by vernacular schools; however, this historical structure, inherited partly from colonial policies, continues to shape our racial politics today.


The Unified Education Certificate was a certificate set up by "Dong Zong", known in English as the "United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia", which sought to unify the examination standard of all the Independent Chinese-medium schools in 1975, according to the Rakyat Post. It can also be seen as a defiance against Mahathir's wishes because, as an FMT article written by Kua Kia Soong put it, the then-Education Minister told Malaysian Independent Chinese Secondary Schools (MICSS) leaders to stop this at once, "or else!" The examination carried on regardless of the warning, and ever since then, the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia have tried to get UEC recognised by the federal government. Perhaps this was the trigger point for many Chinese members of our society to fight for the recognition of the UEC from the federal government ever since, but regardless, times have changed since 1975. This historical dynamic is not just academic, but it directly influences modern electoral outcomes, as seen in the recent Sabah state election



I have already covered the Sabah State Election in my previous article entitled: "OPINION | Sabah State Election 2025: An Opinionated Analysis", which I highly recommend readers to read before reading this piece to understand my fullest thoughts, before coming back for a slightly more condensed version. DAP lost in Sabah, in my opinion, because they were not loud enough on the economic and material conditions of the average Sabahan, which made them feel elitist and out of touch. To my mind, the biggest message from the Sabah polls to DAP is that DAP needs to refocus its efforts on what former DAP MP for Klang Charles Santiago put it on X: “DAP needs to return to basics: people-centred issues, cost of living, livelihoods, governance, accountability, transparency and public service.”


The reasons for my claim


There is this age-old saying in leftist circles that if you "scratch a liberal, a fascist bleeds", which means that as far as economic conditions are concerned, the liberal will side with the fascist on protecting the capital interest. I am not, however, declaring that anybody in Anwar's cabinet or in DAP leadership is a fascist because that would be wildly untrue, and quite frankly, defamatory. I'm merely saying that people like Nga are liberals who tend to side with protecting the political ambitions and rhetoric of the bourgeoisie by pushing on hot-button issues like this to appease the more Chinese chauvinistic members of society, while the far-right in our society is gathering support to push back against this initiative, gaining lifelong followers and voters in the process. Indirectly, this move can lead to a far-right takeover of Malaysia, which is something that I believe the majority of Malaysians would not want, and these claims are not unsubstantiated. The far-right party of PAS won 49 seats in the last General Election in 2022, and they made massive inroads into places like Selangor, which was previously thought of as PKR and DAP heartlands.


The proletariat is only strong if it is united. The rhetoric of the bourgeoisie and holding onto the colonial ways, that is, racial politics, will only divide the proletariat, and it has successfully divided the proletariat for more than 65 years now into their own little racial blocs. It is the age-old saying: "United we stand, Divided we fall", and clearly the proletarians are falling because the elites have divided us into neat racial blocs that they can harness their voters from. Better material conditions lie ahead, with the workers marching together in solidarity with one another, not against one another, on, quite frankly, trivial racial issues. I believe that an improvement in material conditions will eventually break through the darkness that is racial politics because a general improvement of the material conditions will beat racial chauvinism every day of the week. In multicultural societies like Sweden, initiatives like the Folkhemmet have actually improved their material conditions indiscriminately, which has led the population to reject racial and linguistic politics (e.g. Finnish Rights) until very recently. Many of my critics might argue that the question of UEC recognition, the discussion on vernacular education more broadly, is not a cultural issue but rather an essential priority in life, which I agree with. However, the fact of the matter is that it still acts as a roadblock against proletarian unity, especially amongst the Malays in our society. The question put to proponents of this is whether the unity of the Malaysian proletariat, across racial lines, is worth sacrificing for a small gain for your own race; to which I say that it is definitely not worth it at all, with no further questions asked.


The far-right feeds off racial politics. Think about the far-right parties, both historically and contemporarily, and many can notice that there is a pattern: they feed off predominantly racial politics and, to a lesser extent, deteriorating economic conditions. The National Socialists in Germany in the 30s came to power amidst deteriorating economic conditions and a very prevalent anti-Jewish sentiment, according to Britannica. An essay by Equitable Growth shows this as well, with support for the far right being driven less by materialistic conditions, hardship and more by the latent threat to social politics, which people like Nga are peddling very openly, which will draw massive support and pushback. Issues like this do not inherently impact the material conditions of the proletariat, but instead influence the social perception of the racial and cultural differences between us in this beautiful and multicultural land of Malaysia.



The Path Forward


It is in my opinion that DAP should drop identity politics and return to its roots, especially as it likes to invoke the name of the Setapak Declaration of 1967, in which it says that the party is "irrevocably committed to the ideal of a free, democratic and socialist Malaysia". Instead, it should embrace class warfare and the unification of the proletariat across racial lines to truly bring about the ideals outlined in that declaration, which they hold so dear.


On the UEC question, the party should hold onto the principles or drop them entirely to ensure that it can garner the support of the Malay proletariat, which makes up the majority of the proletariat in Malaysia anyway. By doing so, it gets rid of the "Chinese Party" narrative that has been peddled by the racist bourgeois parties historically and presently, and makes the party more appealing to the idea of voting for the Social Democratic Party across the country. Instead, it should focus on improving the economic conditions of the proletariat, engaging in the Warisan rhetoric and using their positions by challenging the government from the inside to enact meaningful reforms. Then Malaysia can fully realise the ideals of the Reformasi calls led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, more than 25 years ago.

When ‘Decency’ Becomes Control: The Real Agenda Behind Government Dress Codes

 

Dennis Ignatius

 

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When ‘Decency’ Becomes Control: The Real Agenda Behind Government Dress Codes 

13SaturdayDec 2025

Posted by Dennis Ignatius in Malaysia, Multiculturalism, Religion

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Anwar Ibrahim, DAP, dress codes, Gobind Singh Deo, Madani, Multiculturalism, non-Muslims, religious establishment

[1] It was reported recently that a woman was prevented from entering a police station to lodge a report because the hemline of her skirt was slightly above her knee.[1]  It’s not the first time this has happened. Over the years, there have been dozens of cases of citizens being denied entry to police stations, government agencies and even hospitals. 

[2] Whenever there was a backlash, the politicians usually denied there was a dress code policy[2] or conveniently blamed the so-called “little Napoleons” for taking things too far. Now we know that all those “little Napoleons” were in fact following the instructions of the chief secretary to the government.[3]

[3] It is no secret that dress codes are part of the government’s Islamic agenda, part of a program to bring all aspects of life in Malaysia into conformity with the dictates of the religious establishment. It’s not really about dressing decently; it’s about religious conformity and submission.

[4] It’s a project that has been underway for some time now. And it’s all being done rather quietly by administrative fiat. At the behest of the religious establishment, a circular is issued which is then quietly enforced by all branches of the bureaucracy. Sooner or later, the public gets the message: if you go against the religious establishment, you will be harassed or refused service. Everyone quickly falls into line and dress codes become normalised. It is happening in many other areas of public life as well.

[5] Such is the mindset capture by the religious establishment that even some of those who claim to champion multiculturalism seem to think that imposing dress codes on everyone is acceptable. In the wake of the latest controversy, one newly minted member of the National Unity Advisory Council proffered the suggestion that government agencies provide robes “like those in mosques” [4]  for non-Muslims who don’t meet the dress code. 

[6] Dress codes for places of worship are understandable but government agencies are secular not religious spaces. And it’s not like non-Muslims are walking around in bikinis or thongs. Skirts and shorts have been around forever and are common enough; it’s preposterous that anyone would take issue with such attire.   

[7] What next? Are dress codes going to be extended to malls and eateries, airports and trains? We can never get too complacent or underestimate the ambitions of the religious establishment. Each step forward merely sets the stage for the next round of demands.

[8] Of course, they keep insisting that it’s about mutual respect, about being sensitive to the feelings of others. But why is respect in a multicultural nation like ours always defined as non-Muslims bowing to the dictates of the religious establishment? How about respecting the feelings and sensitivities of non-Muslims for a change?

[9] After the drubbing they got in Sabah, the DAP appears to have finally found its voice. DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo, who has been MIA on so many issues, quickly came out with a forceful statement insisting that “the police have no right to impose upon anyone standards which are unilateral, arbitrary and/or unreasonable.”[5] Bravo!

[10] But I’m not sure whether the prime minister even takes the DAP seriously anymore. Indeed, after discussing the matter in cabinet on Wednesday, the chief secretary issued a new circular allowing for some exemptions during “emergency situations and those outside normal circumstances.”[6]  What it means is that other than a few exceptions, dress codes are now here to stay, courtesy of the Madani administration. 

[11] I expect that many more Malaysians are now going to be turned away from government agencies and service counters because their dress doesn’t meet the approval of some newly empowered “little Napoleon”.  

[12] We shouldn’t be too surprised because this is the way the prime minister operates – he talks the language of multiculturalism to hoodwink non-Muslims while bending over backwards to appease the religious establishment. Instead of doing the hard work of seeking accommodation and consensus around the issue, he plays politics and hides behind fancy speeches. As a result, our secular space keeps shrinking and our multiculturalism dies from a thousand cuts. Let’s see what Gobind Singh Deo has to say about the revised circular. I hope he has not lost his voice again.

[Dennis Ignatius |Kuala Lumpur | 13th December 2025]

DAP Strategy – From 6-Month Notice To Quitting Anwar Govt

DAP Strategy – From 6-Month Notice To Quitting Anwar Govt


December 12th, 2025 by financetwitter



Both PKR and DAP are in panic mode after their crushing defeats in the recent Sabah state election. The only difference is PKR doesn’t know what to do next, while DAP has started making strategic and tactical moves to salvage the damage. Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People’s Justice Party) or PKR appears calm after the shocking Sabah rejection because they are still busy licking its own wounds.



There are four key reasons why PKR remains silent. First – they keep quiet to let their president Anwar Ibrahim take the responsibility. Second – they are still in denial, while arrogantly believing and hoping, even pretending, that the Sabah tsunami would not reach Peninsular Malaysia. Third – they think Chinese have no other choice but to keep voting Pakatan Harapan. Fourth – they are directionless after losing its chief strategist Rafizi Ramli.



On the contrary, the Democratic Action Party or DAP has finally found its voice because they realize the Sabah tsunami is real and could sweep Malaya. Unlike narcissist Anwar, who has to put up a brave face to save face, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook has given Anwar six months to deliver meaningful reforms or else DAP will reassess its role in the government.



Whether it is just a DAP’s “sandiwara” or political theatrical performance to hoodwink the Chinese voters, of whom 95% support allowed the party to capture 40 parliamentary seats in the Nov 2022 general election, remains to be seen. Unlike in the 1980s or 1990s, today’s Chinese, especially the Gen-Z, are too smart to be scammed, so trick the community at your own peril.



From Gobind Singh slamming Melaka police for denying a woman and her daughter entry to the police station to make a police report about a car accident over “short skirt” to Nga Kor Ming pushing for UEC (Unified Examination Certificate) recognition, DAP is scrambling to win over Chinese hearts again in a high-stake poker game. It’s a gambling DAP must win, or risk being ridiculed and rejected by the Chinese community.



The popular mantra – “if the Chinese do not vote for Pakatan Harapan, who else could they vote for” – has become stale and increasingly ineffective, even annoying. If there isn’t a good choice, the Chinese would rather sleep at home than suffer under the hot Sun to vote for Pakatan, only to be bullied, threatened, and terrorized without any leaders defending them.




It’s not rocket science why PKR stays silent, while the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) unleashed its gangster Akmal Saleh to attack DAP. It shows PKR top leadership is not entirely against the UEC recognition in order to appease the angry ethnic Chinese. At the same time, both DAP and UMNO could become their own community’s champions by quarrelling about it.



However, even if DAP wins, which it can’t, a UEC recognition would come with many strings attached. For example, students at Chinese independent schools who sit for the UEC may be required to master Malay language first – even though they had scored distinction – under a so-called new “language policy”, deliberately creating new road blocks to reject the Chinese and to pacify Malay racists and extremists from UMNO.



The scope of recognition could also see Chinese UEC graduates forced to pay extremely high fees like international students to enter Malaysian public universities. Under the pretext of the quota system, students with UEC qualification could still face limited seats, defeating the purpose of recognizing the UEC in the first place. In fact, there are thousands of dirty tricks that the government could use to bully and discriminate the minority Chinese.




Anwar, a known anti-Chinese who is still the same radical Islamist using Islam as a platform to achieve his political ambition, is not expected to recognize UEC easily despite pressure from DAP. Prior to its state election in November, Sabah state government under Chief Minister Hajiji announced the recognition of UEC in October, leading to Hajiji’s GRS alliance winning the election.



Students in Sabah who sit for the UEC examination and score a credit in Malay language in SPM are eligible not only to apply for Sabah state scholarships to study in education institutions under the Sabah state government, but also qualify to join the civil service in the Borneo state. In Sarawak, the offer is even better – UEC graduates can study for FREE in state-owned universities.



As DAP rushes against six months to package a value meal set of reforms for Anwar’s green light, the Chinese-dominated party is also preparing for the worst – in case racist Anwar chicken out. UMNO could milk the sensitive issue to win over Malay voters by provoking and inciting a racial bloody riot, which could see an interference of Malay Rulers in favour of rejecting UEC recognition.




Yes, PKR and UMNO could be working hand-in-glove to sabotage DAP’s UEC recognition, giving PM Anwar an excuse to reject it under the pretext of “Malay sensitivity”, while at the same time allowing Malay nationalist party UMNO to emerge victorious among ethnic Malay. Under pressure, DAP under the weak leadership of Loke may abandon its own pet projects.



However, the Chinese are too clever to be scammed with such an obsolete drama script.If the perception among the community remains negative, DAP has to execute “Plan-B”, which involvesquitting the Unity Government en bloc but will continue to support the prime minister. That explains why Loke specifically said during an interview that DAP will not withdraw support till the next 16th General Election.



There are reasons why DAP has to give Anwar a six-month notice rather than quitting immediately like UPKO, even though it’s impossible the stubborn and arrogant Premier could deliver meaningful reforms in the next 6 months after failing to do so in the past 36 months. The first reason is to buy some time for Anwar as DAP still prefers PKR as partner as it is relatively less radical.




The second reason is to give time for DAP – once perceived as a fearless and outspoken party against corruption, racism, extremism and injustice during the era of Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh – to build back its previous momentum as the aggressive fighter who would not think twice about defending and voicing out on behalf of the oppressed minorities.



The third reason is to avoid being branded a traitor responsible for triggering political havoc. Anwar’s government will collapse with withdrawal from DAP’s huge 40 seats, the second-biggest party in the Parliament after Islamist party PAS. The 6-month allows DAP to shift all the blame to PKR if Anwar is still pussyfooting on the reforms thereafter, with hopes the tactical move would also impress Chinese vote bank.



As an insurance to ensure political stability and to prevent opportunistic Islamist party PAS from replacing DAP in the Unity Government, DAP would still support Anwar as the 10th Prime Minister even if all DAP ministers resign en bloc in protest against Anwar’s refusal to reform. Still, DAP would be mocked and ridiculed for trying to hoodwink the Chinese voters.




Exactly why DAP quits the Madani government but still supports Anwar if the PM will not lose power anyway because PAS could easily take over DAP’s role? This is the reason why Anwar would arrogantly ignore reforms, especially DAP’s demand for UEC recognition. The burning question is whether Anwar Ibrahim dares to invite PAS to join the unity government.



Technically, PKR has to get UMNO’s approval before inviting opposition Perikatan Nasional to join the ruling federal government. However, there’s a catch – should they invite PAS only or both PAS and Bersatu? While PKR has no issue working with both opposition parties, UMNO hates Bersatu. UMNO could reluctantly work with PAS through the previously formed Muafakat Nasional alliance.



Then, there’s the question of whether PAS will join the unity government without Bersatu, a move which can be seen as betraying its ally for the sake of power, even though PAS president Hadi Awang and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin do not see eye-to-eye due to silent competition for prime ministerial candidate. Even if power-hungry PAS is eager to join to “save the Malays”, it will not be a walk in the park.




The national cooperation between UMNO and PAS, glorified as “Muafakat Nasional” under the pretext of Malay-unity after UMNO-led Barisan Nasional coalition lost power in the May 2018 General Election, became paralysed after UMNO accused the Islamist party of betrayal for inviting Bersatu into Muafakat without consultation with UMNO. So, can UMNO trust PAS this round?



Assuming another Malay-Muslim government – comprising PKR, UMNO, PAS and Bersatu – is formed. What’s next? Can they continue to work like one big happy family in the next 16th General Election, which is about 2 years away? If the previously UMNO-PAS-Bersatu backdoor regime, which collapsed after only 17 months under Muhyiddin, is any indicator, a new Malay-centric government is bound to fail again.



Therefore, Anwar will be digging a bigger grave hole for PKR if he invites PAS into Madani as the Chinese will abandon the traitor. Because PKR, UMNO, PAS and Bersatu are competing for the same Malay votes, PKR would be the biggest loser as it is the only party that is not a purely Malay-based party. In fact, both PKR and Bersatu are splinters of UMNO, and they both command the lion’s share of 80% of Malay support.




With less than 20% Malay support, PKR leaders have only dared to contest in mixed constituencies, refusing to leave safe urban constituencies and contest in Malay-majority, rural seats in the past elections. Without the Chinese votes, Anwar’s People’s Justice Party is toast. Did Mr. Anwar really think Perikatan Nasional, having captured 74 seats in 2022, is generous enough to give away 30 seats for PKR?



Like it or not, DAP has to save itself first before it can try to save PKR. Even then, it depends on whether Anwar – still drunk with power, arrogance, racism and Islamisation – wanted to be saved. To save itself, DAP has to distance itself from the toxic prime minister and his anti-Chinese policies. Make no mistake – DAP is now under existential threat after a total annihilation in the recent Sabah election.



DAP will most likely go back to the opposition camp if it could win only half of its current 40 parliamentary seats in the next national election, while PKR could be wiped out without the Chinese support, or at most managed to defend a handful of seats. DAP’s bargaining power depends on how many seats it could bring to the negotiation table, not Anthony Loke’s sentimental friendship with Anwar Ibrahim.

BM first, English second and Chinese third: Anwar says mastering languages not a zero-sum game

BM first, English second and Chinese third: Anwar says mastering languages not a zero-sum game



Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaks during the Christmas high-tea organised by the Christian Federation of Malaysia at the Christian Churches of Malaysia Ecumenical Center in Petaling Jaya, Selangor on December 13, 2025. — Picture by Raymond Manuel

Saturday, 13 Dec 2025 6:46 PM MYT


PETALING JAYA, Dec 13 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said that Bahasa Melayu (BM) must be prioritised as the national language, but added that proficiency in other languages should be pursued with similar vigour.

He said the mastery of languages should not be treated as a “zero sum game” since it will make young Malaysians more competitive in an increasingly globalised world.

Anwar said yesterday that BM must be elevated as the language of knowledge that must be mastered by all Malaysians after recent calls for the government to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).

The UEC is a standardised exam for independent Chinese high school students in Malaysia, but recognition by public universities remains controversial, making it a focal point in debates over education policy and equality.


Anwar said his remarks were not taken in the right context, with many alleging that he has abandoned his reformist ideals.

“It is not a zero sum game,” Anwar said during the Christmas high-tea reception organised by the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) at the CCM Ecunemical Centre here this afternoon.

“We start with our national agenda to empower Bahasa Melayu and then we focus on enhancing our children’s proficiency in English.


“English is important for our survival and for that of our children in a globalised world.

“So number one Bahasa Melayu, number two English and number three Chinese, including the UEC,” he added.

Anwar also called on universities to consider offering some subjects in Mandarin, saying that it could “immensely benefit us” to adapt and compete with economic heavyweights like China.

Anwar and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof both attended the high-tea, hosted by the Christian Churches of Malaysia, one of the three components of the CFM.

The prime minister announced a RM200,000 allocation for CFM to conduct activities that inculcate moral values and to promote multicultural and multireligious understanding.

Loke’s six-month deadline a political miscalculation, say analysts

theVibes.com:

Loke’s six-month deadline a political miscalculation, say analysts

An analyst argued that such reforms are unlikely to materialise within the timeframe

Updated 1 day ago · Published on 12 Dec 2025 8:41AM

In a recent podcast, Loke said he was willing to resign immediately if his departure would lead to the recognition of the UEC - December 11, 2025


by Alfian Z.M. Tahir


TRANSPORT Minister Anthony Loke’s decision to set a six-month deadline for delivering significant reforms has been criticised as a political miscalculation, with analysts warning that the move risks raising expectations the unity government may be unable to fulfil.


Political analyst James Chin said Loke “made a mistake” by overreacting to his party’s performance in Sabah and publicly committing to a rigid reform timeline, including progress on the long-debated Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).

Chin argued that such reforms are unlikely to materialise within the timeframe, noting that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is also constrained by his need to strengthen support among Malay voters.

“Anwar is unlikely to concede too much on issues viewed as favouring Chinese-majority constituencies, as doing so could undermine efforts to position himself as a leader with strong Malay backing.”

“He needs to be seen as a Malay champion that is why is very vocal on certain issues such as the conflict in Palestine,” said the academic at Tasmania University.

In a recent podcast, Loke said he was willing to resign immediately if his departure would lead to the recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).

Speaking on his podcast, 关键陆点 (Critical Point with Loke), the Transport Minister said he could step down at any time but questioned whether that would actually solve anything.

Loke responded to calls from grassroots party members after DAP’s poor showing in the recent Sabah state election, during which some demanded that the party cut ties with Anwar’s unity government.

The Seremban MP also took aim at PKR secretary-general Datuk Fuziah Salleh, calling her announcement that Pakatan Harapan (PH) would join the Sabah state government “completely wrong.”

He said DAP was completely unaware of any such press conference and called it an “embarrassing announcement that became a laughing stock.”

Another analyst Dr Azmi Hassan offered a similar assessment, questioning both the timing and effectiveness of DAP’s recent ultimatum to Anwar seeking progress on the UEC and broader institutional reforms.

He argued that DAP’s leverage within the unity government has diminished in the aftermath of the Sabah state election.

“The time is not on DAP’s side. I think DAP doesn’t have the mandate or influence, especially after the Sabah election,” Azmi said.

“What they are trying to do is to show their supporters that even while in government, they can still ask for something like the UEC, which has been an ongoing issue for a long time.”

“But the timing is not right after what happened in Sabah. They don’t have the moral obligation to make such demands, including on institutional reforms,” he explained.

Azmi also backed Fuziah for the announcement she made in announcing Pakatan Harapan’s support to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

Azmi described her stance as pragmatic in light of Sabah’s fluid political environment.

“The strategy from Fuziah is to back Hajiji’s state government. The strategy works because what Sabah needs right now is stability,” he said.

“What she did was correct. Although some may laugh it off, it was the right measure taken by Fuziah.” – December 12, 2025

Citing Eastern values, PAS calls for dress code to be upheld

FMT:

Citing Eastern values, PAS calls for dress code to be upheld

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man says the government’s action in revising the dress code 'after pressure from a political party' was a sign of weak commitment to the values of decency

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the personnel who prevented a woman from entering the compound of the Jasin police headquarters should be praised and defended instead.

PETALING JAYA: PAS has criticised the government for relaxing the dress code at government counters and offices following an incident where a woman was denied entry to the Jasin police headquarters in Melaka due to her attire.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the government’s action in revising the dress code after pressure “from a political party” was a sign of weak commitment to the values of decency.

He said the principles of the Rukun Negara were formulated to preserve Eastern values, manners, and decency – a cornerstone of Malaysian society.


“Dressing ethics is not a partisan issue; it is a fundamental aspect of social education that shapes citizens’ discipline without exception, and it should be upheld, not relaxed,” he said in a statement.

The dress code controversy arose after a woman seeking to report an accident was denied entry to the Jasin police headquarters in Melaka on Dec 8 as her attire – allegedly a skirt that fell above the knee – was deemed unsuitable for government premises.


Melaka police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said the woman was asked to return home to change. She later returned, dressed more modestly and with her mother, and was allowed to file the report.

The government later announced that the dress code was relaxed during emergencies or unusual situations.

Tuan Ibrahim said the personnel who prevented the woman from entering the compound of the police headquarters should be praised and defended instead.

“I am confident that the actions of the police personnel were based on an assessment at the time that the matter was not an emergency and did not require immediate action. In an emergency, of course, a different judgment and response would be taken,” he said.
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The relaxation of the dress code came after digital minister Gobind Singh Deo, from DAP, had urged Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail to issue a clear directive to all police stations not to refuse victims or complainants the right to report an accident or crime due to their attire.

Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong, also of DAP, said home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had in the past stated that police were required to accept reports, regardless of the attire of the person lodging it.

On Wednesday, Chief Secretary Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar announced that the government has relaxed the dress code at government counters and offices during emergencies or unusual situations to ensure that the public’s right to immediate services is not denied.

Wrong to assume Anwar has rejected UEC, says PKR man

FMT:

Wrong to assume Anwar has rejected UEC, says PKR man

Johor PKR Youth chief Faezuddin Puad says the prime minister has taken a careful, inclusive and balanced approach towards the UEC issue

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim yesterday said he had no issue with proposals to elevate other languages, provided their advocates recognise the primacy of Bahasa Melayu.

PETALING JAYA: Claims that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has rejected recognising the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) qualification for students at independent Chinese schools are “inaccurate” and “misleading”, says Johor PKR Youth chief Faezuddin Puad.

Yesterday, Anwar said he had no issue with proposals to elevate other languages as long as their advocates recognised the primacy of Bahasa Melayu, which he said must be firmly established before the government could “talk about other matters, including the UEC”.

Faezuddin today said certain media outlets had incorrectly reported that Anwar had rejected the UEC or closed the door on recognising it.


“Based on the full recording of his speech, it is clear that the prime minister has taken a cautious, inclusive and balanced approach, placing the foundations of nationhood first before strengthening linguistic and cultural diversity,” said Faezuddin.

“We need to adopt a reconciliatory approach towards education, whereby positive elements from all examination systems, including the UEC, are incorporated to enrich the national education system, without compromising the core principles of the Federal Constitution and the goal of building a plural society.”



Anwar’s remarks came after DAP deputy chairman Nga Kor Ming said his party planned to meet with him regarding the recognition of the UEC, drawing brickbats from Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, among others.

Akmal said Nga should understand the national education policy first and that there is no need to consider a certificate that does not align with key policy aspects.

The UEC is a secondary school qualification for students at independent Chinese schools. It is not recognised for direct entry into public universities.

Back in 2018: Anwar on UEC and BM, Najib 'considered' recognition

Back in 2018: Anwar on UEC and BM, Najib 'considered' recognition


Published: Dec 13, 2025 9:00 AM
Updated: 4:25 PM



The long-running debate over recognising the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) has flared up again, triggered by DAP’s crushing defeat in Sabah, which highlighted a dip in Chinese support.

DAP deputy chairperson Nga Kor Ming set the ball rolling by announcing the party would seek a meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on UEC recognition, drawing sharp criticism from Umno.

On social media, Malay circles reacted strongly, ranging from racially charged remarks to claims that recognising the UEC would make Anwar subservient to DAP - a perception both the prime minister and the party have been careful to avoid since the formation of the Madani government.

Yesterday, Anwar weighed in on the UEC debate, reminding all quarters of the constitutional status of Bahasa Malaysia, signalling that DAP may face an uphill battle.

“I want to explain this, this is Malaysia. The Malay language is the official language, and whoever is trying to bring the message of a language must remember that the official language, which is the Malay language, must be elevated as the language of knowledge that is mastered by all Malaysians,” he said.

Rewind to 2018

Anwar’s coalition, Pakatan Harapan, has long included UEC recognition in its election manifestos.

The last national polls manifesto stated: “Continuing efforts to recognise UEC as a general requirement for public higher education institutes with the condition that applicants possess at least a credit in BM for their SPM results…”

In July 2018, two months after Harapan ousted BN in the 14th general election, Anwar said that recognising the UEC would not undermine the national language.

“We cannot neglect the position of Bahasa Melayu in the education system and the mastery of it in any system. In my conversations with Chinese education figures, they assured that this was not a problem for them,” he added.


READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | UEC: Are the criticisms justified?


The Harapan government also formed a task force to gather views on recognising the UEC, but Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek told Parliament last year that the government never received a report.

Fadhlina said the task force’s terms of reference gave the panel between three and six months from Nov 29, 2018, to submit its report. She added that this deadline was deferred six times until Feb 29, 2020. The Harapan government collapsed on Feb 23, 2020.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek

“However, until the final date, the task force had yet to submit the report on its study. Since the study period was not extended and had ended, the task force was automatically disbanded on the same date,” she said.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Maszlee Malik, who was the education minister during the Harapan administration, said since the UEC issue has resurfaced, the task force should be given the space to publicly present their report.

He said the task force studied all responses and feedback from every perspective: legal, policy, academic, diversity, union, language, political, and socio-cultural.

“They have also conducted a comprehensive, inclusive, and thorough engagement process with all stakeholders, both at the senior and grassroots levels,” he added.

In 2018, BN had also attempted to woo Chinese voters with the UEC, with then-prime minister Najib Abdul Razak promising recognition if the coalition won a strong mandate - an episode which current Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh conveniently forgot when cautioning that his wing would not compromise on the matter.

However, Lim Guan Eng, who was DAP secretary-general at the time, cast doubt on BN’s pledge, noting that their manifesto merely promised to “consider” admitting UEC holders into public universities.

“Consideration is not approval, but the MCA and BN are likening it to an approval,” he said.

‘Implement Harapan’s pledges’

Now, Harapan faces accusations of backpedalling on its pledge, with DAP bearing the brunt.

Many supporters expect the party, which holds the most parliamentary seats in the Madani government, to take a more assertive stance.

Yesterday, Lim, now DAP adviser, revealed he had sent a letter to Anwar outlining 10 points to regain public confidence after Harapan’s misadventure in Sabah

He urged the immediate implementation of Harapan’s manifesto pledges, stating: “As trustees of the voters, there is no alternative but to proceed directly with the promises of the manifesto without delay.”

DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng

Following Nga’s remarks on meeting Anwar over the UEC, current DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke had sought to reframe the narrative, emphasising that the UEC could complement efforts to uphold the Malay language.

He also cautioned that no quick fixes exist for long-standing issues.

“I can lose my position anytime, no problem. But will that solve anything? If Anthony Loke stops being a minister today, will UEC be recognised tomorrow? If yes, I will resign immediately. But that’s not the reality,” he said.

The UEC, issued to graduates of Chinese independent high schools, is currently recognised by local private higher education institutions, many universities overseas - including Oxford and Cambridge - and the governments of Sabah and Sarawak.

Harapan figures push back as Rafizi faults Anwar's 'soft touch' against Akmal

Harapan figures push back as Rafizi faults Anwar's 'soft touch' against Akmal

Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain & Shakira Buang
Published: Dec 12, 2025 8:00 PM
Updated: Dec 13, 2025 12:11 AM



Pakatan Harapan leaders have come to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s defence over PKR MP Rafizi Ramli’s claim that the government has failed to adequately “control” Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh.

PKR veteran Hassan Abdul Karim opined that there are “lines” the prime minister cannot cross within the current unity government, where Umno holds a stake as a “strategic partner”.

“Let the Umno president (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) control Akmal, if necessary. Anwar, as the PKR president, should worry about his own PKR Youth leader, who (appears to have) lost his voice in national politics as he is too timid and always toes the line.

“Rafizi should also be more concerned about PKR Youth’s weak leadership - let Akmal (make his) moves,” Hassan (above), who is the Pasir Gudang MP, told Malaysiakini.

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When contacted, former natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad expressed similar sentiments, noting that the “general understanding” is for such issues to be dealt with carefully to protect the coalition government.

Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad

The Setiawangsa MP for PKR, however, agreed with Rafizi’s claim that Anwar has been “too careful” in not rebuking Akmal, especially since the latter has often repeated his inflammatory actions.

The PKR lawmakers were asked about Rafizi’s allegation that the government’s supposed failure to rein in Akmal’s incendiary behaviour has caused support for the government, particularly from the Chinese community, to suffer a serious blow.

‘Bad message to voters’

In a Facebook post yesterday where he also shared a clip from a previous episode of his podcast, Rafizi said Anwar appears “too cautious” in calling Akmal out, accusing the prime minister of determining strategies based on how best to “protect” his position.

“When it becomes like that, the message received by voters is: the post matters more than principles.

“Even though we might later fix issues such as taxes, e-invoicing, and so on, the wounded trust - especially among Chinese voters - is not easy to heal,” Rafizi said in the post’s caption.

Rafizi Ramli


In the clip, the former economy minister also claimed that ministers were admonished whenever they voiced out against Akmal’s comments as they were perceived as “shaking the government’s stability”.

“In the end, everything was handed over to the prime minister, but when he didn’t appear to be in control from the start, then I think it’s water under the bridge,” Rafizi said.

‘There were worse before Akmal’

While Hassan asserted that Akmal’s right to express his thoughts should be respected, he acknowledged that the Merlimau assemblyperson’s statements can “sometimes be quite dangerous”, particularly in the context of Malaysia’s multicultural society.

However, Hassan highlighted that certain actions by some of Akmal’s predecessors were “more dangerous to the nation”, referring to when Hishammuddin Hussein gave his infamous keris-wielding speech during the Umno Youth general assembly in 2005.

Pointing to Akmal’s recent pushback against DAP’s call for the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) to be recognised, Hassan commended Akmal for providing “valid reasons based on legal and constitutional positions”.

Dr Akmal Saleh


“The way (Akmal) presented his position in regards to the UEC shows that he has matured.

“He should be given a chance to contest for a parliamentary constituency in the next general election to enable him to play politics in a bigger pond, thus giving more impact to national policies,” Hassan added.

‘Anwar shouldn’t entertain them’

Similarly dismissing Rafizi’s claims, Amanah deputy president Mujahid Yusof Rawa emphasised that as the prime minister, Anwar has repeatedly issued general reminders about the importance of mutual respect among coalition partners, without referring to anyone specifically.

As such, he rejected claims that the prime minister lacks firmness, emphasising that Anwar’s policies and principles have been consistently clear.

“(Anwar) doesn’t need to specifically point at a certain person. Surely it’s not at Anwar’s level to do that, and Rafizi should also understand the position of a prime minister… I don’t agree that (Anwar) should entertain these youngsters,” Mujahid told Malaysiakini.

Mujahid Yusof Rawa


Noting that Akmal’s actions might not necessarily reflect Umno’s official position or have the backing of the party’s youth wing, the senator said it is sufficient for any such issues to be handled by party leaders.

“Why should the prime minister treat it as a national problem?” he questioned, adding that it is impossible to control statements issued by any politician, whether from BN or Harapan component parties.

“Human beings - to shut their mouths is one of the hardest things in the world, especially politicians. We cannot control what comes out of a politician’s mouth, including how we cannot control Rafizi, who is still a PKR member.

“For us, we always approach things (based on the) methods and manners of mutual respect, and if reminders are needed, those reminders must be delivered with decorum - not by shouting, gathering crowds, and creating more (racial) tension,” he added.

UEC: Dong Zong won't beg, but hopes PM shows wisdom and courage

UEC: Dong Zong won't beg, but hopes PM shows wisdom and courage


Published: Dec 13, 2025 11:33 AM
Updated: 2:33 PM



The United Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Zong) has voiced hope that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will demonstrate political wisdom and courage to overcome obstacles to recognising the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).

Dong Zong president Tan Yew Sing pointed out that failure to recognise UEC could worsen Malaysia’s brain drain, but the group would neither beg nor compromise the certificate’s core characteristics to secure it.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Hua Zong (Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia) yesterday, Tan (above) also expressed Dong Zong’s gratitude to both government and opposition parties for their efforts in advocating for UEC recognition.

“[But] we also realise the reality that some politicians are using the UEC issue to manipulate racial relations, and we hope that the prime minister has the political wisdom and courage to cut through thorns and thickets.

“While the sooner the UEC is recognised, the better, the UEC was never meant to exist for the purpose of government recognition, and it would certainly not sacrifice its characteristics and features in order to gain government recognition,” he added.

‘Govts come and go, we keep moving forward’

Tan said instead of “begging” for recognition, Dong Zong would strive for self-improvement and continuously enhance the UEC.

Quoting the classic Chinese text “I Ching” (Book of Changes), he said: “The most crucial belief for the entire (Malaysian) Chinese education system has always been: ‘As Heaven maintains its vigour through the movements of the cosmos, so should the noble person strive for self-improvement’.

“Governments may come and go, we do not beg for pity, we do not beg, and we will certainly not become complacent; we will only strive to be stronger.

“If we keep moving forward, while others remain stationary, then we can look back at the path we have travelled, continue to better ourselves, and proceed confidently with a smile,” he added.


READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | UEC: Are the criticisms justified?


Striking a cautionary note, Tan reiterated that continued refusal to recognise the UEC would ultimately be Malaysia’s loss, accelerating an already severe drain of talent from the country.

Long-time promise, but no political will

The recognition of the UEC has appeared in Pakatan Harapan’s election manifestos, but the political will to implement it remains elusive.

Following a crushing defeat in the Sabah state election, DAP reignited the debate over UEC recognition in an effort to restore its standing within the Chinese community. The move, however, immediately faced resistance from various quarters, including Umno.

Yesterday, Anwar emphasised that any language demands from a single ethnic group must first respect the constitutional status of Malay as the national language.

He further stated that, after honouring and mastering the Malay language, “we can then discuss other matters.”