Press Digest - Kamalanathan in the soup over UEC remark

PETALING JAYA: Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association) urged Datuk P. Kamalanathan to explain why the recognition of UEC (Unified Examination Certificate) would involve national sovereignty.
The deputy education minister should retract the remark if he cannot provide a reasonable explanation, said Dong Zong, Oriental Daily News reported today.
It said Kamalanathan's remark, which was made in Parliament on Tuesday, has confused the public.
He has to clarify whether it (the remark) was the Education Ministry's stand or his personal opinion, said Dong Zong.
Noting that the country's public universities accept holders of Cambridge O and A Level certificates, Dong Zong said if the government recognised examinations conducted by a foreign country, why couldn't it accept UEC, which is conducted by Malaysians, instead rejecting it for a number of reasons, including issues of national sovereignty.
"We are shocked and cannot accept Kamalanathan's remark. Any such policy is utterly double standard and downright discriminatory.
"We want the deputy minister to clarify how it would infringe on national sovereignty if the government were to recognise UEC.
"We are taking a serious view of the matter," said Dong Zong.
Replying to a question from Marcus Mojigoh (BN-Putatan), who had asked whether the government would recognise the UEC, Kamalanathan said: "For now, the government can't recognise UEC as it is not based on the national curriculum and education philosophy.
"This is a reality that needs to be accepted as it relates with the nation's interest and sovereignty," he added, citing part of the minutes of the Cabinet meeting on Nov 6 last year.
DAP's Rasah MP Teo Kok Seong also expressed shock over the citing of "national interest and sovereignty" as a reason for government's rejection of UEC.
He urged MCA and Gerakan Cabinet members to state their stand on the Cabinet decision.
Meanwhile, Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dominic Lau Hoe Chai said the reason cited by Kamalanathan for not recognising UEC was unacceptable and urged the deputy minister to explain how recognising UEC would undermine nation interest and sovereignty.