Kota Kinabalu: The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s decision to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) will benefit a growing number of non-Chinese students who sit for the exam.
He said the decision also differed from the previous Warisan State Government in 2019 which required UEC holders to first obtain a credit in SPM Bahasa Malaysia, a pass in SPM Sejarah and MUET. “Those conditions by Warisan made the recognition only partial and less impactful,” said LDP Vice President David Ong.
LDP said the recognition this time enables students from Chinese Independent Schools to apply for State scholarships and pursue higher studies at institutions such as Kolej Yayasan Sabah and Kolej Teknologi Yayasan Sabah.
“At the end of the day, UEC is a qualification that should open doors, not close them,” he said, describing it as a progressive step towards inclusivity and equal opportunity. The announcement made during Hajiji’s meeting with the Chinese community on Monday is expected to be endorsed by the State Cabinet soon.
He urged the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Government to clarify if UEC holders can join the civil service and whether State-linked agencies would also accept the certificate.
He further proposed scholarship and civil service quotas for UEC holders to ensure fairness. The UEC is currently recognized by the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand. Five Malaysian states now recognise it in various degrees, namely Sarawak, Selangor, Penang and Melaka.
“Clarity and transparency are important so that students, parents and the public know exactly how this recognition will work,” he said.