More than 80% of UEC candidates also take SPM, says Anthony Loke, as he defends the qualification amid renewed calls for recognition.
PETALING JAYA: More than 80% of students who sit for the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) also take the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke (pic) said, as he defended recognition of the qualification and stressed that it is not intended to replace the national examination system.
Loke said that over the past five years, more than 80% of UEC students have also sat for SPM, including 9,580 out of 10,944 candidates last year.
“These are facts that show they do have an SPM foundation. The UEC is not meant to replace SPM. Do not misunderstand this,” he said, adding that students are still required to meet national requirements such as passing Bahasa Melayu and History.
He said the UEC is comparable to A-Levels and serves as an academic qualification for university entry rather than a substitute for Malaysia’s national education system.
Loke also credited Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for taking steps to address the long-standing issue, saying it represents the first serious attempt in decades to resolve the matter of UEC recognition.
“No previous prime minister or government has dared to resolve this issue, even though it has existed for many years,” he said.
On concerns over the national education system, Loke said the government remains committed to strengthening the Malay language while encouraging multilingual proficiency among students.
“Malay is our national language and will remain so. At the same time, we want Malaysian children to master multiple languages; Malay, Chinese, English, Tamil and even Arabic if possible,” he said.
He added that current discussions involve phased recognition starting with selected subjects, subject to approval by professional bodies and university senates.
Loke said the issue should be treated as an education access matter rather than a political or linguistic debate, urging stakeholders to work through the Higher Education Ministry and Cabinet-approved channels to reach a resolution.
