PETALING JAYA:The Unified Examination sat by Chinese independent school students after six years of secondary school has proven to produce high-quality students.

Suzanah Hanim Wong, the deputy chief of Bangi DAP youth wing, shared her education journey as a non-Chinese who graduated from Chinese independent school with UEC on her Facebook.

Wong holds a degree in law from Aberystwyth University in Wales, United Kingdom where she was admitted to the university with UEC qualification.

She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in environmental science at Universiti Putra Malaysia, using her Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) and Bachelor of Laws qualifications.

“These degrees were obtained precisely because the UEC is recognised overseas.

“This fact clearly demonstrates that international universities recognise the UEC as an equivalent and high-quality qualification. The UEC has never been an issue for globally high-standard educational institutions,” she said.

Discussions surrounding the UEC are often politically charged, yet rarely grounded in facts, real-life experiences, or practical considerations about the nation’s future, she said.

Recognising the UEC has never been about favouring any particular ethnic group, but providing fair educational opportunities in a multicultural society.

“The question is this: if my degrees are valid, of proven quality, and recognised by Malaysian public universities—and these degrees exist because the UEC is recognised overseas—why can’t the UEC itself be recognised domestically?”

Wong said hundreds of UEC graduates have graduated from foreign universities and returned home as professionals contributing to the country.

Ironically, while the country recognises the degrees, employment and professional capabilities of UEC holders, it still refuses to recognise UEC.

“This is not only inconsistent but also reflects a lack of logical policy thinking and consideration of global market realities,” she said.

Recognising the UEC does not mean marginalising or weakening the Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM), nor does it affect national identity, undermine the status of the Malay language, or give any ethnic group an unfair advantage, she said.

 Instead, it would align the education system with international standards, fully tap the nation’s talent pool, provide a more competitive workforce, and strengthen the national education ecosystem.

Developed countries do not reject talent, but actively attract it, she said.

“Malaysia cannot continue to lose quality students due to bureaucracy or political sentiment. Foreign universities recognise the UEC, yet Malaysia remains indecisive—this shows the country is preventing its people from realising their potential, ” she said.

“If the global education system recognises UEC, foreign universities accept it while our postgraduate degrees are recognised by local universities, then there is no reason to continue rejecting the recognition of UEC at home.

“It is time for the education policy of Malaysia to reflect reality: Malaysia’s talent comes from diverse sources, and every legitimate and high-quality educational pathway should be recognised fairly and consistently,” she said.