MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon has strongly refuted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s campaign claims regarding the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), accusing him of disregarding history and erasing MCA’s decades-long contributions to Chinese education.
“Anwar claimed that the Madani Government has resolved the issue of the UEC and criticised MCA for failing to do so over the past decades. Such remarks disregard history and seek to erase MCA’s decades of contributions towards Chinese education.
“The progress made on UEC recognition did not happen overnight. It was built through MCA’s consistent efforts over many years.
“In 2010, the government allowed UEC holders to apply for PTPTN loans to pursue higher education at private institutions, significantly expanding opportunities for Chinese independent secondary school leavers,” he wrote on Facebook today.
Chong countered that current UEC admission requirements for selected public university programmes – requiring passes in SPM Bahasa Melayu and History – mirror Barisan Nasional’s previous proposals.
He noted that this falls far short of full recognition, highlighting that DAP’s past promise of an unconditional, single-subject requirement has quietly vanished.
Additionally, Chong credited MCA’s public disclosure for the Cabinet’s decision to restore a full 10-year tax exemption for the TARC Education Foundation.
This reversed a Finance Ministry directive that had quietly slashed the exemption to three years. Chong stressed that MCA will continue to hold the government accountable and defend vernacular education from being manipulated for political narratives.
“Facts do not change to suit political narratives,” he said.
“As the nation’s leader, especially during an election campaign, the prime minister should credit the process that produced this outcome accurately, rather than presenting a reversal secured through public pressure as though it required none.
“MCA will continue to defend vernacular education, safeguard the interests of the TARC Education Foundation, and hold government to its commitments so that Malaysians can make informed and fair judgements.” — July 11, 2026
Main photo credit: NST
