A prominent academic is facing criticism for stating that the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) is "outside" the Malaysian constitution due to its Chinese-medium instruction. But here's where it gets controversial - the academic, National Professors Council (MPN) president Raduan Che Rose, may have inadvertently raised questions about the use of English in Malaysian public universities.
Urimai chairman P Ramasamy pointed out that some Malaysian public universities use English as the medium of instruction, sparking debate about whether this contradicts the Federal Constitution or national education framework. Ramasamy questioned why Raduan had emphasized the importance of Bahasa Melayu with regards to the UEC, while seemingly ignoring the use of English in public universities.
"In his zeal to reject recognition of the UEC, Raduan fails to explain why English is used as the medium of instruction at some public universities in the country," Ramasamy said. He added that, based on Raduan's argument, the use of English at public universities might be unconstitutional and could hinder the implementation of Bahasa Melayu as the national language.
The UEC, created by the United Chinese School Committees' Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong), is academically equivalent to the national Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia or international A-level. However, it is not recognized for direct entry to public universities, except in Sabah and Sarawak.
Raduan had emphasized that any academic qualification recognized by public universities or for entry into public service must include proficiency in Bahasa Melayu and reflect "national history, constitutional literacy, and civic education". However, Ramasamy argued that the Federal Constitution provides for vernacular schools to use Mandarin or Tamil as their medium of instruction, highlighting the complexity of Malaysia's linguistic landscape.
This debate raises important questions: Should academic qualifications be required to adhere to a specific language or curriculum? How can Malaysia balance its national identity with the need for internationalization and diversity? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
