The Kulai MP took the MCA central committee member to task for saying that it was former BN and Umno leaders like former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former deputy prime ministers, Anwar Ibrahim and Muhyiddin Yassin who were the obstacles to the UEC’s recognition when they were in power.
This is especially since both Anwar and Muhyiddin had served as education ministers.
“If these former Umno leaders were against the UEC then, why did MCA continue sitting in the same government with them, if MCA was truly the number one defender of the UEC.
“Now that these leaders are no longer in power, can Ti tell us when UEC will finally be recognised by BN?” Teo asked.
The DAP international secretary said Ti’s claim that Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Razak is willing to reconsider recognising the UEC is mere rhetoric.
“This is especially since Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid just told us in a parliamentary written reply that the BN government will not increase the number of Chinese Independent Schools in Malaysia.
“Not only that, the Legal Profession Qualifying Board under the leadership of Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali only recently decided to implement a decision they made in 2005 that the UEC is no longer accepted for any law graduate wanting to sit for the Certificate of Legal Practice (CLP),” Teo said.
She then reminded Ti that under Anwar’s leadership, the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat had included the recognition of UEC as part of its manifesto for the 2013 People’s Manifesto announced for the last general election that year.
“It only says one thing. In terms of influencing coalition partners and implementing an agenda, MCA is completely no match for DAP.
“The current Pakatan Harapan leadership will make the announcement in good time. If Ti cannot wait, then please ask Najib Razak to dissolve the Parliament now, then PH will surely disclose our manifesto.”