HIGHER Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir has sharply criticised Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming over remarks describing the Ministry of Higher Education as "slow like a tortoise" in implementing the government's policy on Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) graduates' pathway into public universities.
Zambry said Nga's public criticism was inconsistent with the principle of collective Cabinet responsibility, stressing that decisions endorsed by the Cabinet are binding on all members of the administration and must be implemented through coordinated action involving the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies.
"If there are any differences of opinion, the place to discuss them is at the Cabinet table, not through public statements that do not respect the governance of Cabinet meetings," he said in a statement issued last night.
He said all members of the administration were duty-bound to respect Cabinet decisions, adding that he viewed Nga's remarks on the implementation of the UEC admissions policy as irresponsible.
"I take seriously and strongly condemn Kor Ming's irresponsible statement regarding the implementation of the decision on the admission pathway for UEC graduates," he said.
Nga was reported to have made the remarks during a campaign event for the Johor state election in Kampung Abdullah, Segamat, where he criticised the pace of implementing the policy.
The dispute follows the government's announcement earlier this year to formalise a pathway for eligible UEC graduates into selected programmes at public higher education institutions.
On Jan 20, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced during the launch of the National Education Blueprint 2026–2035 that students from all school streams, including those offering the UEC, would be required to study the Malay language and Malaysian history, adding that access to higher education should no longer be a matter of controversy.
At the same event, Zambry said the government would coordinate implementation between the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Education.
On May 14, the Ministry of Higher Education announced that graduates of Chinese Independent High Schools holding the UEC would be eligible to apply for selected programmes at public universities.
Two days later, on May 16, Anwar reiterated that the decision to allow qualified UEC holders to pursue studies at public higher education institutions should not be politicised. - July 11, 2026
