Nazri: Muhyiddin was the greatest obstacle in the recognition of UEC
(Sin Chew Daily) – Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri said the then Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin was the greatest obstacle in recognising Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
In an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily, Nazri said: “I support the government to recognise UEC and not to remain as oral support. When I met with Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association) leaders then and sorted out the reasons that UEC was not recognised, I received their agreement on ‘credit for Malay language’ and brought the matter up for discussion in Cabinet. I have also announced in newspaper before. However, Muhyiddin objected and it was left as that.”
“Muhyiddin was the greatest obstacle. Now he is saying Pakatan Harapan wants to recognise UEC. This is the true colour of their hypocrisy. Why didn’t he recognise UEC when he was the Education Minister when he had the power? Whether Muhyiddin or Mahathir, they are all fake when talking about recognising UEC now. Right from beginning I maintained that only one criteria is needed to recognise UEC, a credit in (SPM) Bahasa Malaysia.”
Support recognition of UEC remains unchanged
Nazri stressed that his stand on supporting the government to recognise UEC remain unchanged right from the time when Tun Mahathir was the Prime Minister until today. He maintained that the government should accept and recognise UEC after serving three Prime Ministers. Unlike Mahathir who did not recognise UEC when he was the Prime Minister, now he is keen to recognise UEC once Pakatan Harapan takes over the government.
“Mahathir wants to recognise UEC now? Hahaha! This is fake. When he was the Prime Minister, why didn’t he when he had the power? To me these are all empty promises.
“If UEC is not recognised because of the criteria requiring a credit in Bahasa Malaysia, then let us resolve the issue. A credit in Bahasa Malaysia is the basic requirement for SPM. Do not use this criteria to stop UEC from being recognised. Since the government has recognised overseas universities including the academic qualification of Taiwan universities but do not recognise UEC which is the entry requirement of university. To me this is not logic.”
Nazri stressed that when he was the Minister in Prime Minister’s Department, he defended UEC. Any issue related to education he would defend till the end and support till the end. For instance, in the past 20 years he had been supporting religious schools in the Muslim community in southern Thailand for them to have access to both national education in Thailand and also Islamic education in a low profile manner.
Campaign fund used for education in southern Thailand
Nazri said the opportunity to support education in southern Thailand originated from the time when he first contested in Padang Rengas. He received donation from many supporters to sponsor his election expenses. But Umno has provided him with sufficient campaign fund. He was not willing to pocket those funds and decided to support the religious education in southern Thailand after careful consideration.
“I remembered when I was a student, I was in southern Thailand and saw the poor Muslim. They were unable to build their own mosque, neither religious school nor school compound. They were isolated in the society. Hence I decided to build religious school there. Only education would bring them back to the society and change their social status as Muslim. The support lasted 20 years then.”
He said the fund sponsored by supporters became funds to manage the school. Poor children managed to attend school and received religious education. For 20 years, many have since graduated from secondary education and even pursued further education. Some of them were civil servants, policeman or studied in university. Many have since contributed back to the school.
“Up till now, the accumulated funds to run the school has rolled into huge sum. From first school in 1998, now seven schools have a total of 18 buildings. Each building can accommodate 1,500 students. When I attended the activity there, the graduates tell me that they are the alumni of the school supported by me. Many are successful in various sectors.”
Apart from supporting religious school in southern Thailand, Nazri helped with additional buildings in Chinese schools in his constituency for two years after becoming an MP in Padang Rengas in 1995.
