MCA president Wee Ka Siong is not optimistic the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) will be recognised by Pakatan Harapan, especially with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad now serving as acting education minister.

“I am cautious about Dr Mahathir becoming the acting education minister, we all know he wields the power.

“I believe that his dialogues with the Chinese community will also be limited. Dr Mahathir is not so willing to listen to others,” he told the Chinese press in a recent interview.

Although PH promised to recognise the UEC – an examination certificate from independent secondary Chinese schools – in its election manifesto, it has yet to do so, despite being in power for 20 months.

Former education minister Dr Maszlee Malik set up a task force to advise the ministry in this area but he stepped down earlier this month, before receiving the final report.

The task force now plans to submit the report to Dr Mahathir.

Wee also hit out at DAP for failing to protect the interests of Chinese education.

He said Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching, who is from DAP, is incapable of performing checks and balances in the ministry, and just adhered to Maszlee’s decisions.

Teo wouldn’t dare speak up against Dr Mahathir, who is now helming the education portfolio, Wee said.

“DAP may not represent the Chinese, but it was supported by the Chinese before it became the ruling party,” said the Ayer Hitam MP.

“Obviously, now there is less room for negotiation and recognition of the UEC. I am not optimistic.”

Looking back, he said, Dr Mahathir previously refused to recognise the UEC despite negotiating with Dong Zong during his previous spell as education minister in 1975.

Even now, the prime minister lambasted the Chinese education group for being racist, Wee said.

He said the government’s commitment towards recognising the UEC is mere pretence, especially with the conditions imposed, such as making history a mandatory passing subject.

Wee believes that there will also be changes to the government’s plans to relocate six vernacular schools and plans to build 10 new primary schools.

Maszlee previously said the construction of two schools will go on, while eight others reviewed based on the government’s capabilities. – January 28, 2020.