Najib disappoints Chinese educationists again
By Joseph Tawie, Free Malaysia Today
KUCHING: Once again Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has left Sarawak Chinese parents and educationists disappointed with his failure to announce the federal government’s recognition of the United Examination Certificate (UEC).
This is, according to DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen, the third time the Najib has hoodwinked the community.
Chong recalled that on Feb 16, Chief Minister Taib Mahmud had openly said that Najib in his next visit to Sarawak would announce the recognition of the UEC, an examination level which is equivalent to the current Sijil Tinggi Malayisia (STPM).
Taib’s deputy and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president George Chan had reiterated on Feb 22 that the recognition of UEC was forthcoming.
But Najib failed to mention the UEC during his visit to Sarawak on March 5. He also did not touch on the UEC during his March 12 visit.
“Again on his visit on March 19, Najib also did not mention the UEC recognition.
“This only goes to show that the Barisan Nasional is not sincere to solve the problem faced by the Chinese education as there is no intention to give recognition to UEC.
“Obviously the Chinese community has been disappointed and played out,”, said Chong, who is the assemblyman for Kota Sentosa.
He urged the BN government to be honest to the people and state their position clearly on this issue.
He said if the UEC is recognised as equivalent to the STPM then Chinese students who passed the examinations would be eligible to apply for Public Service Commission (PSC) scholarships and apply for government jobs.
No recognition
More than 100,000 students and more than 40 Chinese middle schools in the state have been affected by the non-recognition of the UEC, which was introduced and formulated by the Malaysian United Chinese Schools in the country.
Chong said the UEC is recognised by more than 500 universities throughout the world.
“And yet Malaysian universities, although our universities are outside of the 200 ranking, do not recognise the UEC.
“All these graduates have to venture outside Malaysia to look for greener pastures.
“One good example is Pua Khein Seng, the inventor of pen drive which is so widely used now throughout the world.
“Pua is a graduate from a Chinese middle school holding UEC. And because of the non-recognition by the Malaysian government of his certificate, he went to Taiwan and open up his company, Phison Technologies.
“His company is now earning billions of US dollars because of patent rights of the pen drive.
“The government of Taiwan is also earning billions of US dollars from the tax revenue,” he said, pointing out that the Malaysian government had lost out.
Chong who is also the MP for Bandar Kuching said that Taib and Chan are not being honest and frank about this issue to the Chinese community.
“SUPP has not only failed its job, but has repeatedly fooled and lied to the people.
