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HIGHER Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir has defended the government’s decision to open selected pathways into public universities for graduates from tahfiz institutions and Chinese independent schools, stressing that Malaysia’s national education framework remains fully intact and unchanged.
Speaking during the Excellent Service Awards ceremony for the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education, Zambry rejected criticism suggesting the move represented recognition of parallel education systems outside the country’s mainstream national structure.
“Our debate concerns the education system, for example. When we implement this, are we sacrificing our education system?” he said.
“This includes yesterday’s decision to open opportunities — not opportunities for recognition. The national education system remains unchanged, and we will not recognise other systems.”
The remarks come amid heightened debate following the government’s announcement that selected graduates from tahfiz institutions and holders of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) would be allowed to pursue specific academic programmes at public higher education institutions.
The policy is widely viewed as one of the most significant shifts in Malaysia’s higher education landscape in recent years, particularly regarding long-standing disputes surrounding the status of the UEC within the national education system.
Under the latest framework announced by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, students from tahfiz schools and institutions may apply for selected programmes including Diploma and Bachelor’s degrees in Dakwah, Al-Quran and As-Sunnah Studies, Tahfiz Education, and Islamic Studies.
Meanwhile, graduates from Chinese independent secondary schools holding the UEC may pursue selected courses related to the Chinese language, linguistics, and Chinese studies at public universities.
Despite the expanded access, the government stressed that all applicants must still comply with core national entry requirements tied to Malaysia’s education system.
The Cabinet has agreed that students from the affected streams who sit for and pass Bahasa Melayu and History subjects administered by the Malaysian Examinations Syndicate and certified by the Ministry of Education Malaysia may be considered for admission into designated programmes.
Zambry emphasised that regardless of educational background, all students seeking entry into public universities must ultimately meet requirements based on the national Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) framework.
“Because no matter where you study, in the end, entry into university must be based on our system, which is the SPM,” he said.
The Higher Education Minister also accused certain parties of politically manipulating the issue by portraying the policy adjustment as an abandonment of the national education system.
“But that is what happens — when a decision is made, it becomes an issue, manipulated as though we have sacrificed our education system,” he added.
The government’s latest position reflects an attempt to balance broader educational inclusivity with continued emphasis on national language requirements and core education standards, following decades of political and cultural sensitivities surrounding UEC recognition in Malaysia. - May 15, 2026
