KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia will be able to retain its talents if the government recognizes the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), said Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong.
Mah, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said Gerakan had submitted a detailed memorandum to the government with ideas and suggestions on UEC a month ago.
“We hope there will be an advancement on this issue this year,” he said.
Although Mah was uncertain whether the government would give recognition to UEC this year, at least there was some movement towards that goal.
He said many talents have gone to other countries because UEC was not recognized.
“If we want to attract more talents back to Malaysia, we need to recognize UEC so that they can help develop our country,” Mah said after a walkabout at Lido Square to meet with Persatuan Penjaja-Penjaja Lido (Perlido) members and hawkers here yesterday.
There are 60 Chinese independent secondary schools in Malaysia, of which nine are in Sabah.
He said the recognition of UEC had always been a concern of the Chinese community.
“Some say getting recognition for UEC is a political decision, but it also involved technical issues which education officers need to resolve.
“We (Gerakan) have submitted our memorandum, we hope the government will recognize UEC,” he said.
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) has also been pursuing for recognition of UEC in the country, starting off with the Sarawak state government.
SUPP president Senator Prof Dr Sim Hui Kia, has said the most sensible way to achieve something for the party now was to fight for its (UEC) recognition on home turf, so that other states could emulate the struggle.
Mah welcomed the view of SUPP on UEC recognition and he hoped more leaders would declare their stance on this issue.
Nonetheless, he said UEC recognition was not the problem of a state per se, but one that concerned the national education system.
“I think it is difficult to recognize UEC on a state by state basis.”
On the other hand, Mah hoped that the Chinese education group, Dong Zong, would resolve its infighting soon because it would affect the development of Chinese education.
In the Year of the Goat, Mah wished that Dong Zong would solve its internal conflict and work together to face the challenges.
“The conflict has dragged on for a long time, I hope it won’t go to court because that will split up Dong Zong,” he said.
Also present were Gerakan vice president Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah; Sabah Gerakan chairman Datuk Gordon Leong; Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) president Datuk Seri Panglima Dr T.C. Goh; MCA Penampang chairman Datuk Paul Kong; Sabah Gerakan vice treasurer cum publicity chief Kong Yu Kiong; Perlido chairman Lee Seng Wah; Perlido deputy chairman Kapitan Chong Kiam Fah and Perlido secretary Yong Wei Kiong.