Speaking to FMT, Zakaria Kasa of the National Professors Council said he welcomed the move to consider recognising the UEC, but added that the curriculum should first be studied by experts.

He suggested that the job be given to either the University Curriculum Committee or the Academic Planning Committee for national universities.

“The lecturers will have the expertise to conduct research into the UEC and check if it is up to the required standards,” he said. “If the UEC is not up to standard, then it will have to be re-evaluated.”

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has said that the government would be conducting an in depth study of the UEC. The question of whether it should be recognised would then be brought before the Cabinet for its decision.

The UEC is a standardised examination conducted by the United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zhong) in 60 independent Chinese secondary schools in the country.

It is not recognised by the Malaysian government but it is accepted as the SPM equivalent by more than 1,000 universities worldwide, including private universities in Malaysia.

Zakaria said the vetting process should also involve the Education Ministry, the Malaysian Examination Board and the Malaysian Examination Council.

“If the need arises, they can get the views of Dong Zong,” he said.