Press Release by YB Datuk Lee of SUPP Senadin on 05 Nov 2015

suppadmin | November 6, 2015

I fully support the strong stand made by our Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Hj. Adenan Satem urging the Federal Government to recognize the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC). His statements on the subject appearing in our local press today clearly tells the Federal Government in no uncertain terms the rationale and strong justifications to recognize UEC which is in the interests of the country, especially in terms of human capital development and in retaining talents in the country.

The Federal Government should take cognizance of the fact that UEC has received world-wide recognition. Most of the universities throughout the world, including universities in United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, France, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Germany, Italy, Russia, and many others. In Malaysia, all the foreign universities branch campuses, such as Monash, Curtin, Nottingham, Swinburne as well as many of the private universities and colleges recognized UEC for admission to their courses. UEC with excellent results are also offered scholarships by foreign universities in different parts of the world, including renowned universities. Many of them will work overseas upon completion of their studies and thus we are losing some of our talents.

Our public universities also accept foreign students using their respective countries school examination results, why cannot consider UEC when is accepted by foreign countries. UNIMAS, being located in Sarawak should take the lead to recognize UEC for entry into its courses.

The Federal Government’s refusal to recognize UEC graduates for admission to public universities and entry to the civil service has caused disappointment and frustrations among UEC students and their parents. In terms of national language, all UEC students also study Bahasa and sit for UEC Bahasa Malaysia examinations and some also sit for SPM Bahasa Malaysia.

Obviously the UEC quality and standards are of international standard, otherwise how can UEC be accepted by so many foreign universities, including some top universities for admission and some top UEC students are also given scholarships directly by foreign universities.

I urge the Federal Government to look at UEC rationally and in a global perspective as many educationists cannot find any cogent reasons to the Federal Government not to recognize UEC for admission into our local public universities, be granted scholarships, and to join the Civil Service if we want to achieve a developed nation status. Since many developed nations world-wide recognized UEC, why is our Federal Government refuses to do so. If the Federal Government, especially Our Ministry of Education would adhere to using the universal criteria of quality and standard as a yardstick, then UEC meets the requirement in view of the fact that it is recognized world-wide by so many universities, including renowned universities and some of outstanding UEC students are also offered scholarships directly by foreign universities in the developed countries.

Our Sarawak Chief Minister has been very objective and rational as well as having an open global outlook in making the decision to recognize UEC in Sarawak in the interest of the state and nation. Our Federal Government should learn from the wisdom of our Chief Minister and make a decision soon to recognize UEC nation-wide.

In the past 20 months, our Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Hj. Adenan has introduced and carried out 45 principles and actions which are well supported and appreciated by the people. There are three which are directly helping the Chinese community in particular and are greatly appreciated, namely:

1) Chinese are not Pendatang

2) Promise to give financial assistance to Chinese Independent’s School, amounting to 3 million ringgit in 2014, 4 million in 2015 and a promise of 5 million in 2016

3) Recognition of UEC by the State Government for Yayasan Sarawak loan/scholarship and entry into the State Civil Service

In this connection, I wish to urge the people, particularly the Chinese community to give full support to him in the coming State Election so as to give him a strong mandate to lead Sarawak and to fight for more autonomy and devolution of power in accordance with the letter and spirit in the Malaysia Agreement 1963. He can only derive a strong mandate if the people give strong support to Sarawak BN in the forthcoming State Election.