KUALA LUMPUR: A credit in Bahasa Melayu is the only requirement for recognising the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), says Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching.
She said there was no requirement for a pass in History in Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) election manifesto with regard to recognising the certificate.
"In the PH manifesto, the Bahasa Melayu subject requires a credit (with honours)," she said.
Teo was responding to a question on whether credits or passes in Bahasa Melayu and History would be required in the government’s efforts to recognise UEC as a qualification to enter public universities.
Earlier, Teo said that she hoped the issue would be resolved before the end of the year.
Most non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and political parties opposed to the recognition of the UEC, saying it contravened the national education policy and the Education Act 1996 because it did not emphasise Bahasa Melayu.
Meanwhile, Teo said parliamentary approval was not needed for recognising the certificate.
But, she said, members of parliament were free to debate the issue with her in the Dewan Rakyat.
She said she was prepared to answer questions raised about the certificate in Parliament.
“All matters can be debated in Parliament. Policies can be debated but approval by Parliament is a different matter altogether. Only amendments or drafting of Acts have to be approved by Dewan Rakyat,” she said.
“Currently, A Levels, foundation courses do not require any amendments to the law.”