In a joint statement today, United Chinese School Committees Association and United Chinese School Teachers Association, together known as Dong Jiao Zong, said Muhyiddin had twisted the facts when he labelled their refusal to include History in the UEC syllabus as “too extreme”.

“Anyone who claims the UEC syllabus goes against the national (education) system is spreading lies.

“The syllabus reflects Malaysia’s multicultural spirit and is in line with international standards,” they said, adding independent Chinese schools produced graduates who contributed to society.

In an interview with Sin Chew Daily today, Muhyiddin, who is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) president, said Pakatan Harapan might not recognise the UEC should the coalition come into power.

“Pakatan would maintain the stand that there should not be a conflict with national education when presented with the application (for the government to recognise the UEC),” he had said.

Muhyiddin also advised Dong Jiao Zong not to go head to head with the government in the matter of UEC’s recognition, and to follow the suggestion to add History to the UEC syllabus.

The UEC is recognised by more than 1,000 international and local private universities and its holders are not required to complete pre-university courses for admission.

Dong Jiao Zong said Muhyiddin did not see Malaysia as a multiracial community.

“During his time in office (as education minister), he called for the establishment of single stream schools. This shows he does not respect multiculturalism and has intention to spoil it,” they said.

UEC graduates, they said, could also enrol in the teachers training institutes during the time Muhyiddin was education minister.

“It is the government which does not want to recognise our students,” they added.

Dong Jiao Zong also called on the government to fix the “mistakes” in the History textbooks of national primary schools.

“In the past years, the contents have been found to be inappropriate for multiculturalism and to focus only on a particular race or religion,” they claimed.