He said the issue should be discussed more thoroughly and involve more stakeholders.

“It’s not an issue of when and how long it will take… but the issue of the national language and the unity of the people are primary factors that have to be settled.

“Many questions have emerged in public because many are still unclear on the issue (of the UEC). Many think that the UEC is a reason to reject the national language,” he said when approached at the Parliament lobby.

Hence, he said, more discussions should be held with all quarters, including the people, on the issue.

Yesterday, the Education Ministry reiterated that any decision on the recognition of the UEC would be comprehensive and holistic without undermining the position of Bahasa Malaysia as the national language.

The recognition of the UEC was one of the promises in the Pakatan Harapan manifesto for the 14th general election last May.

The UEC is a standardised test administered by the Malaysian Independent Chinese Secondary Schools (MICSS) Working Committee since 1975.