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.
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.
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.
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