Adenan: Senseless not to recognise UEC

> Policy has led to a brain drain, says Sarawak CM

KUCHING: Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem (pix) yesterday hit out at the government policy of not recognising the Chinese school Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).

Labelling it a “stupid policy”, he said it was senseless not to recognise the UEC because it had led to a brain drain and exodus of talent to countries that recognised it.

“Numerous countries all over the world recognise the UEC, but not Malaysia ... what a waste,” he said at the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) Integrity Day here.

He said he did not care what the federal government did, and that he was prepared to stand up for it. Sarawak had endorsed the UEC in September.

“If there is no recognition here, then UEC graduates will go overseas to study and stay back and work there, causing a brain drain here,” he said, adding that Sarawak would lose talented people to countries like Singapore and Taiwan with such a policy.

The UEC is a standardised examination taken by students in all 60 Chinese independent secondary schools nationwide.

International universities, including Oxford, recognise the UEC. Putrajaya does not recognise it on the grounds that it does not follow the national education curriculum.

Unlike in Peninsular Malaysia, Adenan said there were many natives in Sarawak who sent their children to Chinese schools.

“Since becoming chief minister in February last year, I have given a total of RM12 million to Chinese independent schools in Sarawak and will give more in the future,” he said.