PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has insisted that the government’s decision to permit eligible Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) holders into selected public university programmes should not be exploited as a political issue, stressing that national language proficiency and understanding of history remain compulsory requirements.
Speaking during the 55th National Teacher’s Day celebration in Ipoh today, Anwar said the policy does not represent special treatment for UEC students, but instead places them under the same conditions imposed on students from international schools, tahfiz institutions and Arabic schools operating outside the national education stream.
The Prime Minister said the government’s position was guided by the principle that all Malaysians, regardless of educational background, must possess a firm grasp of Bahasa Melayu and national history before entering public higher education institutions.
“Now we already impose conditions on international schools, don’t we? Many Malay and Malaysian children study there. So we impose the same conditions on them and the same conditions on UEC students.
“Maahad tahfiz and Arabic schools previously taught their curriculum entirely in Arabic but did not place sufficient emphasis on Bahasa Melayu and History. We imposed the same requirements there. That is why we made this decision to provide a pathway for UEC students,” Anwar said.
He stressed that passing Bahasa Melayu and History remained essential prerequisites for admission into public universities.
Anwar also warned against compromising on matters involving the national language, describing it as a core pillar of Malaysian identity and citizenship.
“Anyone who lives in Malaysia must master the national language properly.
“To become a Malaysian citizen, a person must understand our history, the Federal Constitution, the history of independence and the struggle against colonialism,” he said.
The Prime Minister further clarified that qualified UEC students would not be confined solely to language-related academic programmes, but could also pursue professional and technical disciplines such as accountancy and other specialised fields.
However, he noted that accreditation matters involving professional programmes would ultimately remain subject to decisions by universities and relevant professional bodies.
The remarks came a day after the Higher Education Ministry announced that graduates from Chinese Independent High Schools offering the UEC qualification, as well as students from tahfiz institutions, would be eligible to apply for selected programmes at public universities.
According to the ministry, the move followed a Cabinet decision on admission pathways for students from educational streams outside the national system.
Applicants from those streams who also possess a complete Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia qualification may apply for any programme offered through the UPUOnline system, subject to merit calculations and subject package requirements determined by the Education Ministry.
The latest policy announcement has revived longstanding debate surrounding the recognition of the UEC qualification, an issue that has remained politically and socially contentious for decades due to concerns over language policy, national integration and the role of the national education system. - May 16, 2026
