KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 14): Any discussion related to the recognition of education certificates, including the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), must be based on the Constitution and the national education philosophy, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He said the UEC issue concerned the future of Bahasa Melayu as a language of knowledge and the unifying language of the nation. When Bahasa Melayu is weakened, Malay children who go through the national stream will be the most affected. “... therefore any recognition must be anchored in the Constitution and the national education philosophy... and the use of Bahasa Melayu and History must be mandatory if they want the government to recognise the UEC,” he said. Also present were Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki as well as Umno Supreme Council member and chairman of the convention’s Secretariat, Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi.

Source: The Edge Markets January 13, 2026 16:58 UTC