Rais wants Senate select committee to discuss UEC issue immediately

PUTRAJAYA: The Senate's Socio-Cultural, Communication and Education Select Committee is advised to hold a meeting urgently to discuss the issue of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) raised by the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) recently.

Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim said the committee chaired by Senator Aknan Ehtook needed to examine in depth and compare the contradictions between the proposal put forward by the association and the Education Act 1996 (Act 550), formerly known as the Education Act 1961.

"This issue needs to be clarified as soon as possible, considering that there is a lot of confusion because if this issue continues to be raised, it is feared that it will have a negative impact on the national education system.

"In addition, it is likely to cause confusion among the people who want this issue to be resolved immediately," said Rais, who is the former sociocultural adviser to the government, in a statement here today.

On Saturday, Dong Zong was reportedly eager to meet the new Minister of Education to forward its proposal for recognition of the UEC, but the revival of its call riled several parties.

Following that, Dong Zong, in its statement afterwards, said it was willing to engage in dialogues and discussions with various levels of society to increase understanding about UEC, in addition to increasing consensus so that education issues can be explored rationally and pragmatically.

-- BERNAMA