They never failed to resurrect this issue every time when they perceived public support from their core supporters comprising mainly of Malaysians of Chinese descent, for them drops.
DAP states they are a multiracial party for all Malaysians rather than a race-based one.
But their action, although consistently the same, on the UEC issue paints a different picture.
If they are a multiracial party as they claimed, why no support or actions taken to address the future of Tamil education which apparently is hanging in the balance presently?
Education for the Orang Asli in Malaysia significantly lags behind national averages, largely driven by geographic isolation, poverty, and institutional gaps.
Where are the politicians from DAP?
Support for DAP drastically plummeted, especially from the chinese, during the 17th Sabah state election in Nov 2025, resulting in the party being wiped out all the 8 seats, where they are the incumbents, it contested.
In that election, their vote share in key Chinese-majority constituencies collapsed from approximately 78% in 2020 to just 27%.
DAP knew that they will need to work hard to retain its traditional voter base amid their disappointment over slow reforms and the lack of resolution to longstanding issues, such as recognition for the Unified Examination Certificate, or UEC.
Immediately following the aftermath, the deputy chairman of DAP publicly said the party would meet with PMX to discuss national recognition of the UEC.
This was followed by the Secretary General of DAP, who in an interview in a podcast, said he is prepared to resign immediately if stepping down would guarantee the federal government’s recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
It is obvious both messages were directed at their non Malay supporters.
With the next General election due soon – even though the next GE is not due until Feb 2028, conditions that are bubbling underneath the political landscape might force the government to call for an early GE - DAP cannot afford to lose more grounds in Semenanjung Malaysia especially in its traditional strong hold in urban areas.
The Straits Times in Singapore recently reported, that as at May 2026, internal estimates shared with The Straits Times by senior DAP figures on condition of anonymity, project that PH is likely to lose its two-thirds supermajority in the next general election.
Growing discontent among the Chinese community in Penang regarding DAP is an undeniable undercurrent in local politics.
While traditional Chinese supporters have long backed the party as a stronghold, a combination of unfulfilled promises and local policies has sparked significant frustration amongst voters in Penang for DAP.
In fact, DAP announced that they will hold a special congress on July 12, 2026 to decide whether the party’s leaders should resign from their positions in the unity government while continuing to back PMX in Parliament.
While the special congress is being framed as an internal "referendum" to decide whether officeholders should relinquish executive posts.
Even if grassroots delegates at the July 12 congress vote for resignation, the perception of the congress amongst the public is that DAP is unlikely to pull its ministers out of the federal government.
Instead of continuing to flog the dead horse, known as the UEC issue, DAP not only needs to convince their traditional supporters but every Malaysian, regardless of race and religion that they remain committed to the reform agenda and to ensuring more equal treatment for all Malaysians.
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