Press Digest - DPM: Chong Hwa students can sit for UEC exam

PETALING JAYA: Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin acted swiftly yesterday to reiterate that the government will not stop SM Chong Hwa Kuantan from enrolling its students for the UEC (Unified Examination Certificate) examination and ordered the withdrawal of a Pahang Education Department letter that said otherwise.
According to Chinese press reports, Pahang Education Director Mohd Rosdi Ismail, in a Sept 10 reply to Pahang Dong Lian Hui's enquiry on SM Chong Hwa Kuantan's status, stated that the school is a "sekolah menengah swasta" (private secondary school) using the Secondary School Integrated Curriculum (KBSM) and not a Chinese independent school (bukan sebagai sekolah "Independent").
He also said the school's students will not be allowed to sit for the UEC examination.
The status of the school, which was set up last year, has been a bone of contention between Dong Lian Hui's umbrella organisation, Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association), and the school's board of directors.
While the board insists that it is a Chinese independent school as intended, Dong Zong says otherwise, citing ambiguities in the approval letter.
Dong Zong also said Chong Hwa will not be on the UEC list until it is satisfied that the school is a bona fide Chinese independent school.
Yesterday, Dong Zong went public with Mohd Rosdi's reply to Dong Lian Hui. At a press conference in Kajang, its president Yap Sin Tian expressed regret over the state education department's decision.
Two hours later, Muhyiddin, on being told of the matter after the weekly Cabinet meeting, immediately ordered the Education Ministry to have the letter to Dong Lian Hui withdrawn.
Meanwhile, MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, on being told of the matter, has also said the government's decision to allow SM Chong Hwa Kuantan students to sit for the UEC examination remains unchanged.