Adenan yakin Sarawak, institusi negeri tidak akan terjejas meskipun k’jaan pusat terus enggan iktiraf

PETALING JAYA: Prof Dr Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah membidas Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Adenan Satem kerana menuduh Kerajan Pusat bodoh apabila tidak mengiktiraf Sijil Peperiksaan Bersepadu (UEC).

Pensyarah dan penganalisis politik itu berkata, Adenan tidak sepatutnya bercakap ‘hanya sedap mulut’ kerana beliau hanya ahli politik bukan pakar pendidikan.

“Jangan sedap mulut bercakap tindakan kerajaan Pusat bodoh. Yang bercakap itu, pandai sangatkah? Ketika berada dalam Kabinet suatu ketika dahulu, kenapa menikus?

“Tidak semua ahli politik pakar. Sekadar ada ijazah asas, masih belum pakar. Maka rujuklah pakar. Bukan buat kelakar,” tulis di ruangan rencana di akhbar Sinar Harian.

Ridhuan Tee berkata, kerajaan Pusat tidak iktiraf UEC kerana tidak memenuhi keperluan Dasar Pendidikan Kebangsaan.

“Standard komponen Bahasa Malaysia UEC tidak setaraf Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), liputan kurikulum Sejarah UEC bagi sejarah negara ini juga terhad.

“Pendek kata, syaratnya amat mudah. Mereka hanya mahukan kecinaan itu dikekalkan,” katanya.

Katanya, Pakar Perlembagaan, Shad Saleem Faruqi telah menjelaskan Perlembagaan hanya membenarkan hak untuk belajar bahasa ibunda bukan hak belajar dalam bahasa ibunda.

“Jika UEC sangat baik, sila ambil SPM bersekali, dapat dua sijil. Bersusahlah sedikit. Kenapa kerajaan juga dipersalahkan,” katanya.

Ridhuan Tee berkata, dia memuji dan menyanjung tinggi Bumiputera di Sabah dan Sarawak yang tidak menuntut sekolah berasaskan etnik.

“Jika tidak, ribuan sekolah berasaskan etnik akan wujud. Inilah kelebihan Bumiputera di sana,” katanya.

Sehubungan itu, Redhuan Tee menasihatkan orang politik berhenti bercakap perkara bodoh dan menuduh kerajaan bodoh yang membawa maksud menteri dan timbalan menteri juga bodoh.

“Adakah kita hanya pandai setelah keluar dari sistem. Sedih apabila melihat ahli politik tidak berfikir dahulu sebelum bercakap atau bertindak sehingga terserlah kebobrokan,” katanya.-Free Malaysia Today

LETTER: This “Letter to the Editor” section is aimed at providing an opportunity for readers to air their opinions on current issues and other subjects of interest. Send your letters to editor@theantdaily.com Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

STUPID AND SENSELESS: I agree with Adenan Satem that it is stupid and senseless not to recognise the Unified Examinations Certificate (UEC).

Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem really hit the nail on its head when he called the federal government’s policy of not recognising the Chinese schools’ UEC “stupid and senseless”.

Which federal minister could disagree with Adenan when he said it made no sense not to recognise the UEC because it had led to a brain drain and exodus of talent to countries which recognised the qualification?

In fact, I would say that not only is the federal government’s policy stupid and senseless, it is also a most unfair policy.

Where is the fairness when foreign students can be admitted to our local public universities, yet our own multi-racial citizenry who hold UEC are denied the opportunities?

UEC has been recognised by more than 500 world-class universities and it is utterly stupid for the federal government to keep giving the excuse that it cannot recognise UEC because it does not follow the national education curriculum.

The federal government must not continue with its stupid policy and should immediately recognise UEC.

MCA Ministers have claimed they have never stopped making efforts to have UEC recognised, if this is so, they should explain why their efforts have been futile especially after having returned to the Cabinet for 16 months.

On 30 Oct 2013, it was reported in a Chinese daily that MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong, when commenting on the issue of UEC recognition, had said that the delay in recognising UEC was due to some officers who were unwilling to recognise UEC making things difficult.

This is certainly a most stupid excuse.

Was he saying that these little napoleons were so powerful, more powerful than the cabinet ministers and that they were able to decide government policies?

If MCA is no able to convince the Cabinet to reverse its stupid policy, it must at least not give such stupid excuse.

Teresa Kok is the DAP Member of Parliament for Seputeh.-The Ant Daily

MIRI: Kerajaan pusat diminta segera membuat keputusan mengenai pengiktirafan Sijil Peperiksaan Bersatu (UEC) daripada mengelak isu itu terus membelenggu pelajar sekolah menengah persendirian Cina.

Menteri Muda Perhubungan Datuk Lee Kim Shin berkata, keputusan kerajaan pusat tentang dilema UEC disifatkan `tergantung’ terlalu lama.

“Kita khuatir bakat muda kita terpaksa meninggalkan negara kerana tidak dibenar memasuki universiti awam dan perkhidmatan awam,” katanya kepada pemberita petang semalam.

Lee yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Senadin menyokong gesaan Ketua Menteri Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem yang meminta kerajaan pusat mengiktiraf UEC.

Menurut Lee, Adenan mempunyai pendirian yang kukuh tentang UEC kerana mahu memanfaatkan sepenuhnya bakat muda tempatan.

“Kerajaan pusat harus belajar daripada kebijaksanaan Ketua Menteri dan segera membuat keputusan untuk mengiktiraf UEC di seluruh negara,” jelas Lee.

Untuk mencapai status negara maju, kerajaan harus melihat pendidikan secara perspektif global.

“Sekarang kita hidup dalam era globalisasi. Secara global, banyak negara maju mengiktiraf UEC, kenapa Malaysia tidak.

“Jadi bagaimana kita mahu menjadi negara maju. Untuk mencapai cita-cita ini, kita harus bersikap terbuka dan berpandangan global,” katanya.

Dalam tempoh 20 bulan, Ketua Menteri telah memperkenal dan melaksanakan 45 Prinsip dan Tindakan yang kini mendapat sokongan dan penghargaan rakyat.

Menurut Lee, tiga prinsip dan tindakan secara langsung membantu masyarakat Cina iaitu Cina bukan pendatang, bantuan kewangan untuk sekolah persendirian Cina berjumlah RM3 juta pada 2014, RM4 juta pada 2015 dan RM 5juta pada 2016 serta mengiktiraf UEC untuk biasiswa/pinjaman Yayasan Sarawak dan kemasukan untuk perkhidmatan awam.

“Saya menggesa rakyat khasnya masyarakat Cina memberi sokongan padu kepada Ketua Menteri pada Pilihan Raya Negeri akan datang dan memberi mandat kepada beliau untuk memimpin Sarawak,” ujarnya.-Utusan Borneo

Selangor mengiktiraf Sijil Peperiksaan Bersatu (UEC) menjadikan ia sebagai negeri kedua yang berbuat demikian selepas Sarawak.

Menteri Besar Selangor Mohamed Azmin Ali dalam pembentangan Belanjawan Selangor 2016 berkata, kerajaan negeri mengiktiraf peranan besar yang dimainkan sekolah jenis kebangsaan Cina dalam pembangunan modal insan.

"Mulai tahun depan, UNISEL akan mengiktiraf Sijil Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) yang diperkenalkan Gabungan Persatuan Ahli Lembaga-Lembaga Sekolah Cina (Dong Zhong).

"Usaha ini boleh mengelakkan masalah brain drain yang semakin ketara. Statistik menunjukkan 3,000 pelajar menamatkan pelajaran dengan sijil UEC setiap tahun," katanya ketika pembentangan Belanjawan Negeri Selangor 2016 di Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Selangor hari ini. –Rhe Malaysian Insider

KUCHING: Sarawak’s recognition of Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) augurs well for the production of human capital needed to help Sarawak rise with a strong economy within the nation as well as in the Asean region.

In highlighting this yesterday, Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said this major move showed the state government’s commitment to spearhead the development of education in the state.

“Human capital is undoubtedly the most important asset for the successful development of any economy,” he told a press conference after opening the 2nd International Conference on Contemporary Issues in Accounting and Finance (CoCIAF) 2015 at Hilton Hotel here.

He shared that members of the State Cabinet, setting aside emotions and sentiments, gave their full support to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem in his decision to recognise the UEC.

CoCIAF 2015 is jointly organised by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Securities Industry Development Corporation (SIDC) and Malaysian Institute of Accountancy (MIA).

“Sarawak can build a strong economy with prudent management by taking into account the plus factor (natural resources), provided that we are able to grow and pool our talents,” he said, emphasising the reason for the government to demand greater autonomy in education.

Abang Johari, who is also Tourism minister, pointed out one of the strengths of Chinese school system is its great emphasis on mathematics, which is crucial for the business world.

“Relating to today’s conference, figures and data are key tools in accounting and finance. Forward-looking predictive data and analysis are thus important to aid businesses in their decision making,” he said.

Furthermore, he added, Mandarin language which has risen in usage and English remaining an essential language were important and powerful tools for political, social and economic exchanges in this increasingly globalised world.

“Language is key to engagement in the business world. Sarawak will see a brighter future if we can rise to this challenge,” he said, noting that China is now the second economic power in the world after the US.

Like other countries in the world, he added, Malaysia was facing various challenges due to the uncertain global economy.

However, he assured that the country had strong fundamentals, with its economy integrated internationally.

“Malaysia is one of the top trading nations in the world with our major trading partners including Japan, Singapore and the US. We are not relying on ourselves but also what is happening around the world,” he explained.

Looking at the current global economic development, Abang Johari foresees the importance of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) bloc, especially the infrastructure bank mooted by these five nations led by China.

“This bank is just like World Bank or IMF, the moment this bank is established, the Chinese Yuan will evolve and become an important currency,” he said.

Meanwhile, the three-day conference themed ‘Theory Meets Practice’ serves as an important platform for academicians, researchers, industry practitioners and policy makers to interact and exchange viewpoints and research findings on contemporary issues in Accounting and Finance.

It is attended by some 100 delegates from various countries including Iran, Japan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Malaysia.

Earlier in his speech, Abang Johari emphasised that Unimas played an important role in enhancing and developing world-class training programmes to suit the needs of Sarawak’s domestic industry.

“In this respect, Unimas must develop several programmes to increase the level of expertise in the local industry. The course structure must be well received by both the students and industries,” he said.

“At the international level, Unimas must take steps to collaborate with other training institutions in other developed nations to mutually recognise the courses,” he added.

He commended the conference for presenting an excellent opportunity for participants to crystallise a common vision for the future of accounting and finance fraternity.

“Make the most of this conference to learn more about the latest issues, share your experiences and take valuable lessons home with you. With your active participation, I believe you will benefit tremendously,” he told the participants.

The conference brings together a collection of 67 research papers from various Accounting and Finance disciplines and research areas.

Altogether, there are 12 concurrent sessions arranged according to common themes pertaining to Economics, Corporate Governance, Business Management, Auditing and Earnings Management, Public Finance, Islamic Economics and Finance as well as Accounting and Finance tracks.

The opening ceremony witnessed the exchange of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Unimas and Cooperative University, Thanlyin, Myanmar.

Among the activities that can be expected from this MoU are student exchange programme, academic staff exchange programme, joint research projects and consultancy and other activities of mutual interest of both parties.

Unimas vice chancellor Prof Dato Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi, Cooperative University of Thanlyin, Myanmar rector Prof Dr Thein Tun, Dean of Faculty of Economics and Business of Unimas Prof Dr Shazali Abu Mansor and CoCIAF 2015 organising chairman Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel.-Borneo Post

SEKILAS PANDANG: Pengumuman baru-baru ini oleh presiden Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (SUPP) Dr Sim Kui Hian berhubung institusi pendidikan dan langkah kerajaan memberi perakuan kepada Sijil Peperiksaan Bersatu (UEC) untuk sekolah Cina mendapat pujian daripada warga Sarawak.

Pemegang sijil UEC kini boleh memohon kerja di kerajaan negeri, seta pinjaman dan biasiswa dari Yayasan Sarawak dan malah mungkin boleh menyambung pelajaran di Unimas.

Turut hadir ketika pengumuman tersebut adalah ketua Persekutuan Persatuan-Persatuan Lembaga Pengurus Sekolah Cina Malaysia (Dong Zong) Vincent Lau dan pengerusi Lembaga Pengurusan Sekolah Menengah Persendirian Cina Bersatu Sarawak Richard Wee Liang Chiat.

Ketua Menteri Adenan Satem berkata, memandangkan kerajaan persekutuan terus berlengah dalam memberikan lampu hijau, beliau telah memutuskan bagi pihak kerajaan negeri untuk meneruskannya.

Katanya: “Jika kita menunggu kelulusan persekutuan, ia mungkin memakan masa bertahun!”

Pejabat Ketua Menteri kemudian mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa kelulusan rasmi akan diberikan tidak lama lagi.

Maka berakhirlah tugas berat dan melelahkan yang digalas lima presiden sebelum ini – jika kita melihat perjuangan SUPP yang dimulakan ketika era pimpinan Stephen Yong Kuet Tze dan disempurnakan oleh Sim.

Ia menjadi isu kempen paling hangat buat beberapa pilihanraya negeri (PRN) pada masa lalu. Isu ini memihak dan menguntungkan DAP kerana kerajaan negeri terus mengabaikannya.

Ramai yang berkata, keputusan ini adalah mustahil ketika di bawah regim lama.

Akan tetapi, perjuangan isu ini nampaknya masih belum berakhir sepenuhnya.

Penyokong SUPP dan parti serpihannya UPP (Parti Rakyat Bersatu) masing-masing mendakwa merekalah faktor utama kemenangan ini.

Pertikaiannya adalah Lau, salah seorang penyumbang dana terbesar UPP, turut ada ketika pengumuman dibuat. Namun Sim-lah selaku presiden SUPP yang membuat pengumuman. Malah beliau juga yang mendapat kelulusan peribadi dari Adenan untuk mengumumkannya.

Tetapi mereka masih bergaduh.

Selaku pengerusi Pengurusan Sekolah Menengah Persendirian Cina, Wee berkata: “Kita patut merasa gembira dan bersyukur dengan kelulusan ini, atas kecenderungan peribadi Adenan dan kebolehannya membuat keputusan bebas daripada persekutuan. Untuk apa lagi bertelingkah secara terbuka?”

Benar! Adakah masyarakat Cina di negeri ini bersikap remeh sehingga mahu mencetuskan isu politik daripada berita baik ini?

Penting sangatkah bagaimana kelulusan diperolehi, dan siapa yang bertanggungjawab mendapatkannya?

Kita semua perlu merasa gembira yang perkara ini menjadi kenyataan akhirnya.

Kita tidak patut terus mempolitikkan perkara seperti pendidikan, dan juga dasar yang memberi kesan terhadap semua pendidikan – Cina, Inggeris, Dayak atau India!

Terima hakikat bahawa pemimpin berubah, begitu juga dasar yang dibawanya. Tiada perkara yang kekal selamanya, dan manusia tidak boleh terus hidup dengan mengabaikan apa yang berlaku di sekelilingnya. Kita semua melangkah ke hadapan dan dengan harapan ke arah kebaikan.

Pejuang pendidikan Cina di Sarawak sepatutnya memberikan tunduk hormat dan berterima kasih kepada Adenan Satem kerana melakukan perkara ini, sesuatu yang sudah diperjuangkan mereka sejak sekian lama.-The Ant Daily

Penekanan kuat kerajaan negeri terbukti dengan sokongan, peruntukan

KUCHING: Penekanan kuat yang ditunjukkan oleh pentadbiran Ketua Menteri Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem untuk membantu sekolah Cina mencerminkan kepentingan untuk mewujudkan masyarakat berbilang bahasa supaya negeri ini terus berdaya saing dalam globalisasi.

Menteri Perumahan Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg berkata, ia adalah sesuatu yang praktikal bagi kerajaan untuk memberi tumpuan kepada usaha memperkasakan sekolah Cina memandangkan 20 peratus daripada tujuh bilion penduduk dunia sekarang menggunakan bahasa Cina.

Bagi menjadi pemain global, katanya, kerajaan negeri perlu membuat perancangan bagi membentuk masyarakat yang dapat bergaul dengan satu sama lain khususnya mereka yang berasal dari negara-negara kuasa ekonomi utama dunia.

Menurutnya lagi, pada era globalisasi sekarang, di mana peluang perniagaan dan ekonomi begitu banyak, bahasa seperti Mandarin dan Hindi akan menjadi signifikan seperti bahasa Inggeris di kalangan populasi yang bertutur dalam bahasa-bahasa tersebut.

Dua negara yang mempunyai penduduk paling ramai dunia, China dan India sama-sama menyumbang sekitar 37 peratus daripada populasi dunia, katanya.

Bahasa lain yang disebut oleh Abang Johari sebagai sama penting termasuk bahasa Jepun, Korea dan juga bahasa Melayu yang digunakan di Indonesia, Singapura dan Brunei terutamanya dengan penubuhan Komuniti Ekonomi ASEAN (AEC) pada tahun ini.

“Pada 2012, populasi dunia sekitar 6.8 bilion dan lebih satu bilion datang dari China sahaja. Memandangkan orang Cina sudah berhijrah ke seluruh pelosok dunia ia amat penting bagi kita untuk dapat berkomunikasi dalam Mandarin dengan 20 peratus populasi ini.

“Ia adalah sesuatu yang bagus untuk dapat bercakap dalam pelbagai bahasa terutamanya jika kita mahu menjadi pemain global penting,” katanya ketika melawat Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Chung Hua No.4 di sini semalam untuk menyampaikan cek bernilai RM500,000 bagi membina dewan serbaguna baharu di sekolah tersebut.

Turut menyaksikan penyerahan cek itu, Presiden Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (SUPP) Senator Datuk Dr Sim Hui Kian, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pengurusan SJK Chung Hua Kuching No.1 hingga 6 Wong Tiong Hock dan Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Projek Jonathan Chai Voon Tok.

Abang Johari yang juga Menteri Pelancongan berkata, kerajaan negeri serius mengenai pendidikan Cina dan berusaha sedaya upaya untuk membantu sekolah tersebut.

Beliau memberitahu Adenan pernah memperuntukkan RM4 juta untuk membantu sekolah Cina selain menjanjikan RM5 juta lagi pada masa depan.

Pengiktirafan Sijil Peperiksaan Bersepadu (UEC) yang mana pemegang UEC dapat memohon untuk menyertai perkhidmatan awam negeri selain memohon biasiswa atau pinjaman pendidikan daripada Yayasan Sarawak yang dipengerusi Ketua Menteri sendiri adalah bukti lanjut kepentingan pendidikan Cina di negeri ini, jelasnya.

Justeru, beliau menegaskan sokongan padu daripada masyarakat Cina kepada Adenan harus dikekalkan untuk memastikan beliau dapat memimpin negeri ini.

“Jika Adenan tidak kuat, Putrajaya tidak akan mendengar suara kita,” ujarnya.-Utusan Borneo

SUARA LANTANG: Ketika kerajaan Sarawak memutuskan untuk mengiktiraf Sijil Peperiksaan Bersatu (UEC) bagi membenarkan graduan yang layak memohon kerja di perkhidmatan awam negeri, ia bukanlah dibuat tanpa dirancang.

Keputusan dibuat selepas pertimbangan panjang, dan pada akhirnya, kerajaan merasakan sudah tiba masanya memberi kedudukan selayaknya kepada UEC – yang pada asasnya bermaksud pendidikan Cina dan sekolah swasta.

Sehingga hari ini, tiada seorang pun warga Sarawak yang mempersoalkan keputusan itu. Ia bermakna mereka setuju bahwa pengiktirafan kepada UEC tidak menjejaskan negeri secara politik, sosial dan juga ekonomi.

Pendidikan dan sekolah Cina bukan baru wujud semalam. Kedua-duanya, dan juga UEC, adalah sama tua dengan Sarawak. Dan jika ia menjadi punca kepada perpecahan sosial dan suasana tidak harmoni, ia tentunya tidak berkembang ke tahap hari ini.

Agak pelik – dan menyedihkan – apabila di Malaya, ada pihak yang merasakan sekolah vernakular menjadi punca perpecahan dan perlu dimansuhkan.

Perhimpunan baju merah bulan lalu menggesa agar SJKC dimansuhkan atas sebab tersebut. Sementara mufti Perak Harussani Zakaria pula berkata hanya sekolah kebangsaan dengan perantara Bahasa Melayu yang patut ada untuk seluruh rakyat Malaysia. Dengan itu anak-anak dari pelbagai kaum akan membesar dengan mengenali dan menerima satu sama lain.

Tetapi mengapa hanya sekolah kebangsaan dengan perantara Bahasa Melayu, di saat semakin ramai yang menyeru agar sekolah kebangsaan dengan bahasa Inggeris dikembalikan?

Lihat Johor misalnya. Di sana, seruan mengembalikan bahasa Inggeris sebagai medium pengajaran datang daripada Istana sendiri!

Sekolah Cina di Sarawak tidak pernah memisahkan warga Sarawak.

Sebaliknya, ia kian menjadi tempat bercampurnya pelbagai budaya, kaum dan agama di sini.

Sekolah Cina membantu warga Sarawak untuk lebih memahami, menghargai dan berhubung antara satu sama lain.

Malah standard pengajaran dan pembelajaran juga sentiasa baik.

Justeru, mengapa warga Sarawak akan berfikir untuk memansuhkan sekolah vernakular – seperti mereka di Malaya?

Memansuhkan pendidikan Cina sama seperti membunuh ayam yang mengeluarkan telur emas.

Dan ia bukanlah telur emas politik. Tetapi yang dapat dijual di pasaran. Ia berharga tinggi dan sentiasa dicari.

Apa yang Sarawak mahukan daripada sistem pendidikan kebangsaan adalah kelebihan dalam persaingan.

Inilah juga yang dimahukan Ketua Menteri Adenan Satem, namun Malaysia tidak mampu menghasilkannya secara konsisten.

Sistem pendidikan kebangsaan telah gagal manakala pendidikan Cina berjaya. Inilah sebabnya Adenan mahu autonomi pendidikan dikembalikan kepada Sarawak.

Tidak, Sarawak tidak memiliki sebarang sebab untuk menutup sekolah vernakular.

Sebaliknya, sumbangannya kepada UEC akan memberi jaminan bahawa pendidikan Cina akan terus menyumbang kepada negeri seperti sebelum ini.

Adenan tidak mahu sistem pendidikan kebangsaan yang terlalu dipolitikkan. Apa yang beliau mahu adalah sistem praktikal yang mengambil kira keperluan warga dan pasaran, di dalam dan luar negara.

Mungkin benar bahawa warga Malaysia semakin terpisah di Malaya, yang menurut sesetengah pihak disebabkan sekolah vernakular.

Warga di sini pula tidaklah terlalu renggang. Setakat ini.

Tetapi kerenggangan itu sudah pun bermula ekoran sistem pendidikan kebangsaan yang dipolitikkan.

Adenan mahu menyekat arus ini sebelum ia menjadi terlalu kuat.

Jika Sarawak dapat merangka sistem pendidikannya sendiri, ia pasti akan memberi cabaran dan persaingan kepada sekolah vernakular.

Dalam pendidikan – seperti juga di mana-mana sektor – persaingan sihat.-The Ant Daily

KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Adenan Satem, or his ministers, should give more details on the state’s recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).

Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How, who made the call, said he welcomed the state’s recognition of the UEC and described the decision as an “important” one, but it begs more details.

“I do not doubt that UEC holders are able to gain admission into private universities and colleges in Sarawak, as UEC has long been recognised outside Malaysia. This certificate is held in high esteem for qualification into universities and colleges in most other parts of the world.

“In fact, (private) local universities and colleges in the state have accepted UEC as admission qualification,” he said in a statement yesterday.

See said he also did not doubt that UEC holders could apply for Yayasan Sarawak scholarships as this was within the jurisdiction of the state government.

But the acceptance of UEC holders into the state civil service needed clarifications.

“While it appears to be an extension of the policy change to accept UEC holders into teachers training colleges if they obtain SPM credit in Bahasa Melayu, the state government should clarify whether UEC holders are eligible to apply only for posts in the state civil service or are they equally eligible to be recruited to serve in the federal civil service.”-Borneo Post

Holders of the certificate can now apply for state govt jobs, apply to Yayasan Sarawak for loans or scholarships and may be able to study in Unimas

KUCHING: Finally, after decades of fruitlessly knocking on doors, the incessant push to get the government to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) made a landmark breakthrough yesterday – but only in Sarawak.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem created history of sorts when he gave the long-awaited nod that enables UEC holders to apply to join the state’s civil service.

Adenan, who is also Yayasan Sarawak chairman, went a step further when he gave Yayasan Sarawak the go ahead to provide education loans or scholarships to UEC holders. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) may also join the bandwagon and open its doors to UEC holders, but its senate had not made any decision yet.

However, SUPP president Senator Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, who broke the slew of good news yesterday, told reporters that Unimas had taken the lead in accepting UEC holders. In any case, a decision may be made soon as the Chief Minister’s Office, when contacted, stated it was working on getting Unimas to open its doors to UEC holders.

Present at the press conference were United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) chief Temenggong Dato Vincent Lau and Sarawak United Association of Private Chinese Secondary School Management Board vice-chairman Richard Wee.

On the state government’s decision, Dr Sim said, “We briefed the chief minister on this issue during a meeting this morning (yesterday), and he told us that since the federal government was so slow (in making a decision), the state government will recognise UEC first.”

On joining the state civil service, he said applicants needed to have a credit in Bahasa Melayu in their UEC results and be employed under the Employees Provident Fund Scheme (EPF).

“They cannot opt for the pension scheme because this is under the purview of the federal government. If we were to wait for federal approval, it may take many years.”

On Unimas, Dr Sim said the university’s senate had agreed to allocate a quota for Sarawakians who are UEC holders.

“Though it is a national university, the Unimas Senate has certain amount of authority. After a discussion with them, they agreed to recognise the certificate (UEC).

“Unimas is the first public university to recognise UEC. No other public universities in the country recognise UEC, yet.”

He added that all state government-owned private higher institutions of learning in the state, such as Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, Curtin University Sarawak, and University College Technology Sarawak (UCTS) had long recognised UEC, unlike their peers in Peninsular Malaysia.

UEC, Dr Sim said, had long been recognised by many universities in the world, including Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia, and Singapore’s National University.

With the recognition granted by the state, it was now up to Dong Zong’s technical team to work on the technicalities on how to evaluate a student’s UEC result for entry into Unimas.

“They (Dong Zong) will work out the details to ensure the results comply with the university’s entry requirements. Hopefully, they are able to complete this as soon as possible, so that UEC holders can apply to study in Unimas from next year onwards.

“Hopefully, this is the beginning of autonomy on Sarawak education,” said Dr Sim.

Meanwhile, when contacted by The Borneo Post, Unimas vice chancellor, Prof Dato Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi, agreed that Dr Sim had forwarded a request for Unimas to accept UEC students, but a decision had not been made yet.

“There are things to look at, for instance the issue of SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia). It’s not as simple as allowing those with UEC to be admitted (into Unimas).

“We need to study the whole thing first and bring the matter to the senate (for which Kadim is its chief). After consulting the senate, we also need to consult the Ministry of Higher Education.”

Meanwhile, Lau hoped the state government’s recognition of UEC would spur the federal government to follow likewise.

“We are very happy that the chief minister has decided to recognise the UEC. This is another very positive response from him (Adenan) towards Chinese education.

“With this decision by the state government, we hope the federal government will also look into this positively and recognise UEC,” he told The Borneo Post.

Lau, who is also Sarawak United Association of Private Chinese Secondary School Management Board chairman, believed if the federal government were to recognise UEC, it would not only benefit Chinese independent school students but also the nation.

“Chinese independent schools have been producing a lot of excellent and quality students. With the recognition of UEC, I think this will definitely help to produce more talents in the country, which is much needed as Malaysia is a developing country.”-Borneo Post

KUCHING: Putrajaya has been urged to heed the recent call of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem to edit History textbooks to include the contributions of all races in the formation of Malaysia and its development.

Chairman of Sarawak United Association of Chinese School Boards of Management, Datuk Pau Chiong Ung, in making the appeal yesterday, said he concurred with ‘Adenan’s right mindset’ and hoped that the Ministry of Education (MoE) would act on the suggestion.

“MoE should seriously consider what has been raised by our chief minister during the recent interview with TV3, and do something about it. The contributions of the forefathers of both Sarawak and Sabah should not be omitted from our History textbooks.

“I concur that our History textbooks should not just focus on the history and development of Peninsular Malaysia and the Malay community,” he said at an award presentation held at The Mandarin in iCom Square here.

Pau asserted that Chinese education in the country had been extensively developed over the years, but this would not happen without real struggles from a number of founding figures.

He said a few educationists had even been imprisoned for defending Chinese education in Malaysia.

“Such is the tough journey that Chinese education in Malaysia has gone through. We must keep up with what our forefathers in Chinese education have achieved.”

On the United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong), Pau hoped the new leadership would restore the representation from Sabah, Terengganu and Selangor.

Of late, the Home Ministry announced that it would not de-register Dong Zong while acknowledging the newly-elected officer bearers.

“The new line-up is being accepted by the Home Ministry. But I urge the new leadership to bring back Sabah, Terengganu and Selangor to the big family of Dong Zong, so that together we can fight for the betterment of Chinese independent schools.”

Sabah, Terengganu and Selangor are the only three state affiliates of Dong Zong not present at the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held in Kajang on Aug 23 to solve the prolonged leadership crisis.-Borneo Post