‘Keep up efforts to get UEC recognition’

DEPUTY Education Minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon urged Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association) not to give up its fight for government recognition of the UEC (Unified Examination Certificate).

He said he would continue lobbying for such as getting government recognition for UEC is not something that can be achieved within years but could take decades, China Press reported yesterday.

Responding to Dong Zong president Datuk Vincent Lau’s remark on Saturday that the Chinese education movement no longer had high hopes of getting government recognition for UEC and that the “last mile” to government recognition for UEC appeared short but was a never-ending journey, Chong said he alone could not complete the “last mile” and needed the relevant government agencies as well as individuals and organisations concerned about Chinese education to “walk along with him”.

Asked whether he would bring good news for the Chinese community regarding UEC prior to the 14th general election, Chong, who is MCA Youth chief, said the matter was beyond him.

On Lau’s remark that UEC has been turned into a political issue, Chong pointed the finger at DAP.

“You don’t see PAS or PKR harping on education issues, only DAP,” he said.

He said DAP has turned it into a political issue by claiming that Pakatan Harapan would recognise UEC should it come to power.

Meanwhile, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the party shared the same objective with Dong Zong on the issue of UEC i.e. to push for eventual recognition by the government.

Hua Zong (Federation of Chinese Associations of Malaysia) president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah also urged Dong Zong not to give up its efforts to get government recognition for UEC, saying the Chinese community will rally behind Dong Zong on the matter.

He expressed hope that the government would announce full recognition for the UEC before the next general election as a gift for the Chinese community.