Recognising UEC won't destroy Malaysia, says Annuar Musa

KUALA LUMPUR: Recognising the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) will not put Malaysia in the path of destruction, said Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
In stating this, the Ketereh MP said the Federal Constitution guarantees the rights of all Malaysians, including on matters involving language and education.
He also said the government should recognise the certificate as doing so would not breach any provisions embedded in the constitution.
"I do not see that recognising the UEC can destroy Malaysia. In fact, we will be at the losing end if we just allow our students to go (and study) to other places.
"Why can't we recognise our own home-grown certificate? I am not saying that we should simply recognise it as we have the national education policy. So, we need to sit down (to discuss)," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.
The UEC is a standardised examination for Chinese independent high school students organised by Dong Zong, the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (UCSCAM), since 1975.
Annuar admitted that his vocal stand on UEC was not met with approval from certain parties, but did not elaborate on those that oppose his views.
He said many people brought in their emotional sentiments when discussing matters pertaining to the recognition of the UEC, but refused to engage with other stakeholders for clarification.
"Those who oppose might not have met with Dong Zong... we are all Malaysians. Every leader needs to sit down and solve the problem," he said.
Annuar added that leaders in Malaysia must have the quality of respecting each and every race in the country.
"There is no place in Malaysia to only think about a single race. This was the basis when we achieved our independence, we accepted the multiracial concept.
"We are getting angry at UEC without any basis. If the argument was that it does not conform to the education policy, then which part? We must sit down and Dong Zong is willing to listen," he said.