Rejecting UEC is not about being anti-Mandarin – Education expert
He stressed that recognising the UEC was considered an insult to Article 152 of the Federal Constitution, which provides for Malay as the national language
By RAIHAM MOHD SANUSI
12 Dec 2025 09:35am
Dr Anuar Ahmad
SHAH ALAM - Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) education expert Dr Anuar Ahmad has firmly opposed proposals for the government to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
He stressed that recognising the UEC was considered an insult to Article 152 of the Federal Constitution, which provides for Malay as the national language.
He said the mastery of Mandarin was important, but equating the UEC with national public examinations such as the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) was unacceptable.
Anuar added that recognition must be rejected when pressured to place the UEC on equal footing with national examinations.
“I reject the recognition of the UEC not because I am anti-Mandarin.
“I believe Mandarin is very important to master,” he said.
Anuar, who also served as the Institute of Ethnic Studies Development and Inclusive Progress Malaysia (Minda UKM) deputy director, said recognition of the UEC would contravene the National Language Act 1963/67.
“They want to meet the Prime Minister to push for the UEC to be recognised. The whole country is in an uproar.
“People become uneasy. Some even begin attacking each other. Believe me, they are watching and enjoying it.
“Then they will go quiet, as though nothing has happened, even though their actions have already ‘hurt’ many people’s feelings.
“When needed, they will reappear. They will push again for the UEC to be recognised.
“This is what has happened since July 1959. At that time, there was a dispute between Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj and the second MCA president Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu,” he said.
He traced the issue back to 1959, highlighting the dispute between Tunku Abdul Rahman and Lim, who had pushed for the recognition of examinations from Chinese independent schools.
Anuar said MCA had even threatened to boycott the Alliance Party during the 1959 general election if recognition was not granted.
He said Umno held a special assembly and unanimously rejected the demand, insisting that Malay language must not be sidelined.
He said the boycott did occur and many Umno candidates almost lost, calling it an example of longstanding pressure surrounding the UEC debate.
Anuar emphasised that no nation committed to building a unified national identity would allow vernacular schools within its national system or fund them through public resources.
“But the Malay leaders in this country since independence have shown very high levels of tolerance, to the point where sometimes this ‘excessive’ tolerance becomes an irritation to the Malays themselves.
“You will not find a single country in this world that grants recognition to Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools, then agrees to include these schools within the national education system and subsequently allocates annual funding.
“You will not find it,” he stressed.
SHAH ALAM - Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) education expert Dr Anuar Ahmad has firmly opposed proposals for the government to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
He stressed that recognising the UEC was considered an insult to Article 152 of the Federal Constitution, which provides for Malay as the national language.
He said the mastery of Mandarin was important, but equating the UEC with national public examinations such as the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) was unacceptable.
Anuar added that recognition must be rejected when pressured to place the UEC on equal footing with national examinations.
“I reject the recognition of the UEC not because I am anti-Mandarin.
“I believe Mandarin is very important to master,” he said.
Anuar, who also served as the Institute of Ethnic Studies Development and Inclusive Progress Malaysia (Minda UKM) deputy director, said recognition of the UEC would contravene the National Language Act 1963/67.
“They want to meet the Prime Minister to push for the UEC to be recognised. The whole country is in an uproar.
“People become uneasy. Some even begin attacking each other. Believe me, they are watching and enjoying it.
“Then they will go quiet, as though nothing has happened, even though their actions have already ‘hurt’ many people’s feelings.
“When needed, they will reappear. They will push again for the UEC to be recognised.
“This is what has happened since July 1959. At that time, there was a dispute between Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj and the second MCA president Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu,” he said.
He traced the issue back to 1959, highlighting the dispute between Tunku Abdul Rahman and Lim, who had pushed for the recognition of examinations from Chinese independent schools.
Anuar said MCA had even threatened to boycott the Alliance Party during the 1959 general election if recognition was not granted.
He said Umno held a special assembly and unanimously rejected the demand, insisting that Malay language must not be sidelined.
He said the boycott did occur and many Umno candidates almost lost, calling it an example of longstanding pressure surrounding the UEC debate.
Anuar emphasised that no nation committed to building a unified national identity would allow vernacular schools within its national system or fund them through public resources.
“But the Malay leaders in this country since independence have shown very high levels of tolerance, to the point where sometimes this ‘excessive’ tolerance becomes an irritation to the Malays themselves.
“You will not find a single country in this world that grants recognition to Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools, then agrees to include these schools within the national education system and subsequently allocates annual funding.
“You will not find it,” he stressed.
No comments:
Post a Comment