View credential from educational perspective, not through racial lens, says MCA Youth Information chief
KUALA LUMPUR: The spotlight is back on the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) but MCA Youth says the focus should be on education and the nation’s future, not racial politics.
MCA Youth Information chief Neow Choo Seong said MCA has been consistent over the years, rooted in the belief that recognising the certificate would not harm the country if managed responsibly.
“From an education point of view, UEC is just another form of certification. If we are serious about education and talent retention, we must look at this from an educational perspective, not a racial perspective,” he told theSun in an interview at Wisma MCA.
Neow pointed out that MCA had supported UEC even during Barisan Nasional’s previous administration.
He recounted the party’s involvement in negotiations during former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s tenure to find a balanced and inclusive approach.
“We wanted UEC recognised but at the same time ensure that national unity would not be jeopardised. There are certain areas that can be adjusted, such as strengthening the teaching of history and emphasising Bahasa Malaysia.”
He added that these were reasonable compromises that could be discussed with stakeholders, including Dong Zong and education groups.
Neow highlighted that UEC involves private Chinese independent schools, which should not be confused with public vernacular schools.
“Many people don’t understand this because they only look at it from a racial angle. UEC schools are private institutions. At the same time, we already have hundreds of thousands of students studying in public vernacular schools.”
He likened the situation to the existence of private, international and national schools today.
“It’s the same concept. The difference is the medium of instruction, which in this case is Mandarin.
“If it is good for the community and good for the nation, why not? MCA has been fighting for this consistently. We are not going to be hypocritical by changing our stance according to political winds.”
He said public frustration stemmed largely from unfulfilled promises made by other parties.
“DAP had promised in its manifesto since 2018 that UEC would be recognised within six months if they came to power. They repeated this again in 2022 and even said they would leave the government if it was not recognised.
“Today, people are questioning their stance because those promises were repeated many times. That is why many Chinese voters feel disappointed.”
Neow cautioned against politicising the issue for popularity.
“I don’t want to jump on the bandwagon just to be a hero. That is not healthy. If we are sincere about improving education quality, then let educators and policymakers sit down and find a solution that safeguards national unity.”
He said several state governments, including Sabah and Sarawak, already recognise UEC at the state level.
“If states can recognise it and it has been proven that there is no harm, then why can’t we look at this from a broader national perspective? We cannot have one country, two systems.”
Neow added that failure to address the issue pragmatically could worsen brain drain.
Sharing his own experience, he said mastering multiple languages does not diminish one’s national identity.
“I speak Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mandarin fluently. It doesn’t make me less Malaysian or less Chinese. Language is just a tool.
“Learning more languages will not make anyone less patriotic. It only opens more doors. In a global economy in which China plays a major role, denying this reality will only limit our future.”
