KUCHING: A Pakatan Harapan manifesto promise to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) arguably swayed especially Chinese votes in its favour in the last general election in 2018.
UEC holders must have thought that they would finally gain admission to the country’s public universities as well as the public service.
However, the promise did not materialise within 100 days as promised after PH won the GE14.
It in fact become an empty promise after the PH collapsed in 2020 – after leading the country for just 22 months.
Contractor William Wong said UEC was one of the promises the PH, including DAP, made in GE14 and that they failed to fulfill it.
“They failed to recognise the qualification within 100 days and they failed to explain or update the people what was the progress or issues,” he recalled.
The 56-year-old also took exception with DAP leaders in Sarawak, who had stayed quiet about it, even though they were part of the federal government back then.
“Don’t give us false hope during the election (campaign) and stay silent after that,” he said.
Wong said he would not fall for the promises or manifesto by the DAP this time around and that if he has to vote for an opposition party to ensure checks and balances, he would support a local opposition party.
“It is not that I like what a local opposition or its leader has done, but I think we still need opposition in parliament for checks and balances,” he said.
Wong hoped whoever gets to form the next federal government gives more and urgent attention to the rural areas in the central region of Sarawak.
“Please continue and speed up development for the rural villages and longhouses, equip them with (at least) stable and reliable electricity and treated water supplies as well as speedy internet coverage as it is something important in a modern and digital world now,” he stressed.
The UEC has been accepted as an entry qualification at universities in countries such as Singapore, Australia and the United Kingdom – and it remains close to the heart of those receiving Chinese education in Sarawak.
The Sarawak government has recognised the UEC since 2014, allowing holders of the certificate to work in the state civil service and apply for scholarships from Yayasan Sarawak and for entry into the state-owned University of Technology Sarawak.
Apart from that, the state government also allocates grants of up to RM10 million a year to independent Chinese schools.
