KUALA LUMPUR: Recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) will only come within five years time said Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik (pic).

“Any decision on UEC will be made within five years of the new administration following a holistic study on the matter.

"The ministry will carry out a comprehensive study and obtain views from interested parties through consensus, while ensuring the importance of Bahasa Melayu and inter-ethnic harmony,” he said in a written reply to a question raised by Alice Lau (DAP-Lanang) in Parliament.

He also noted that the ministry will not allow the isssue over UEC's recognition to adversely effect the status and position of Bahasa Malaysia.

Article 152 of the Federal Constitutions states that the national language shall be the Malay language and shall be in such script as Parliament may by law provide.

Dr Maszlee acknowledged that the UEC's recognition was part of the Pakatan Harapan election manifesto.

However, he noted that the promise was not within Pakatan's pledge of reforms within 100 days after assuming power.

“The Education Ministry believes this matter must be seen in a holistic manner and a decision cannot be rushed.

"Furthermore, the recognition of UEC is not part of Harapan’s 100-day pledges," he said.

Last month, Dr Maszlee was reported to have said that it will not take Pakatan 60 years to recognise the UEC.

His reponse came after his deputy Teo Nie Ching was reported to have said that the UEC will be recognised by year-end.

MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, in his Facebook posting, said that UEC was introduced in 1975, and hence only has a history of 43 years.

He urged Dr Maszlee to fulfil Pakatan’s promise to recognise UEC in a straightforward and clear-cut manner and to stop dragging the issue.

Dr Wee said that the dilly-dallying had resulted in Chinese independent high school leavers missing out on the September intake at local universities.