Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew
MIRI: Recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) under Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) government is unlikely and DAP and other Chinese MPs from PKR should apologise to the Chinese voters for misleading them during the last General Elections, says SUPP.
SUPP Secretary-General and Piasau state assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting Chew Yew said the party was left disappointed after it read the statement made by the Prime Minister on why his government could not recognise UEC.
Ting said that the statement went against the promise of such recognition as contained in PH’s manifesto.
Dr Mahathir cited consideration of feelings of the Malays and the need to address the gap of national wealth distribution first.
“With the given reasons above, people on the ground feel that it is extremely unlikely that our Prime Minister and his government will ever recognise UEC,” said Ting.
SUPP said Dr Mahathir’s track record of him holding three important cabinet posts during the BN’s 45 year rule “does not favour UEC recognition”.
He was Minister of Education (1974-1976), Deputy Prime Minister (1976-1981) and Prime Minister (1981-2003) during his tenure – and UEC was not recognised by his administration.
“It would have been easy for him if he had wanted to. It is therefore a fair statement to say that our Prime Minister will never agree to the recognition of UEC so long as he is our Prime Minister,” he said.
In every Parliamentary election, the issue of the recognition of UEC by the federal government would always be raised by DAP, MCA and Gerakan with the hope of getting the support of the Chinese.
“Lim Kiat Siang and Lim Guan Eng always shouted the loudest, till May 2018. Since then, they don’t see, don’t hear and don’t speak anymore on this,” Ting added.
SUPP takes pride in the leadership in the state as the present Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg affirmed that he and his government would continue to recognise UEC – a decision made by his predecessor, the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem.
Adenan started to allocate funds to the 14 Independent Chinese Middle Schools in Sarawak in 2014, amount to RM3 million. The amount has continued to climb each year, with Abang Johari allocating RM7 million last year.
SUPP reiterated that Sarawak was unique and the interests of Sarawak must always come first, demanding answers from Sarawak DAP leaders over UEC recognition.
“Sarawakians are now asking why Sarawak DAP leaders have also gone quiet, not only on this issue, but other issues as well,” he said.