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2019年10月18日星期五

仄里尼【 承认统考需要政治意愿 】



承认统考的相关事宜已经成为了我国政府和华社的肉中刺。

尽管做出了很多承诺,但它仍然没完没了。虽然进行了多次讨论,包括很情绪化和不切实际的讨论。这个课题不能从政治和种族的角度出发,以及肤浅和狭隘的观点来看待,而应该以冷静和有智慧的头脑来理解。

因此,当希望联盟在第14届大选宣言中纳入承认统考时,无疑给华社及相关利益者包括相关华教组织带来了希望。

华社及选民认为他们看到了终于可以解决问题的曙光。但是,原来它不容易处理,且至今仍然悬而未决,从而爆发对希盟的不满和失望。

就好像在等待树上掉下猫山王一样。华社要等到什么时候,还是他们只能继续失望下去?

承认统考最终报告本应该在7月公布,然后再提呈内阁,但最终却没有做到。

这个敏感课题被扭曲成了不利和具有争议性的种族课题,对很多人都不利。希盟政府必须认真对待解决统考的问题。

否则,他们将看起来与国阵没有什么不同,且说的比做容易,他们无法兑现宣言中的许多承诺,其形象和声誉已经受到了严重的破坏。希盟不能被视为反反复复和不真诚的人;否则会带来许多灾难。希盟应该记住,这对华社来说是一个重要问题且不容忽视。不要只是看起来只会许下承诺,然后又千方百计给出各种理由来拒绝兑现。

当这个课题拖的时间越长,而几个州属如槟城、雪兰莪、马六甲、沙巴和砂拉越已经宣布承认统考文凭的情况下,它对人民和希盟政府来说就越不好。

此课题必须从专业、客观和理智的角度加以看待,而不是被种族主义的情感因素所掩盖。否则,我们都将走进同一个死胡同,而找不到让所有人都受益的解决方案。

希盟必须拿出勇气和政治意愿来兑现其大选宣言。教育部长马智礼说,该部希望统考政策特工队(PPDUEC)不会再次展延完成该最终报告,以让他可以顺利提呈内阁。该特工队主席邱武英之前说,他要求展延原订在之前必须完成最终报告的截止日期。

据了解,在完成这项报告并提呈给教育部之前,该特工队还有剩下20%的工作尚未完成。他们还需要与相关利益者或其他人包括国会议员交流。他们在10月16日会晤国会议员并听取他们的意见,然后再将最终报告提呈给政府。

只要满足所有要求,包括在大马教育文凭考试中获得马来文科优等成绩,就没有理由不承认统考。这些特定条件是绝不能妥协的,以免影响国家利益。为此,政府必须以明智和谨慎的态度来看待有关特工队的最终报告。最好的方法就是没有人全赢,也没有人全输。

考虑到问题的敏感,华社一定要现实一点,不可能满足所有人的要求,因为教育部需要在多元种族社会和国家教育制度的背景下,根据国家的长远利益进行进行评估和做出决定。在该特工队向各个基层组织进行会面后,预计有关华教组织的建议会获得采纳,尽管不是全部。

最重要的是,政府应该在不破坏国家愿景的情况下做出最好的决定。这个课题是不可避免且需要解决的,但必须非常谨慎和小心行事。

这是因为,反对承认统考的一方认为,它违反了联邦宪法第152条文,并直接破坏了想要建立一个教育制度以团结国人的国家教育政策和愿景。他们认为一旦承认统考,就会破坏国家教育政策,也贬低了国语的地位。

我们需要前进,并为国家利益做出大胆、平衡和专业的决定。统考的课题是如此漫长而曲折。我们还要被这个问题困住多久?当然,除非我们做出最终决定,不然在接近大选时又被政治化,最后我们将将无法充满信心地向前迈进。

我们必须被视为是一个能够为国家做出准确、大胆和正确决定的民族,而不是将问题扫入地毯底下就好像它从未出现过。实际上,这个课题就像房间里的大象,且是所有政治问题的根源。

在1975年,代表60所独中的董总要求政府允许在独中进行统考考试。最初,时任教育部长马哈迪拒绝了董总的要求,但最终还是允许了他们。

这个课题不应该变成破坏我国各族团结与分裂社会的负担并被政治化。

包容性的原则应该成为我国教育制度的主要内容,特别是在当代世界中,学习和掌握更多语言会让人更贴近时代。未来的生存很大程度上取决于人民所接受的教育素质。如果统考真的很好并需要得到承认,那又有什么不可?

我们不能仅仅以历史和过去的眼光看待现在和未来的教育。我们必须跳出历史和种族的框框,以更宽阔的眼光看待未来。

最重要的是,马来人和土著学生不仅应该掌握马来语和英语,而且还应该掌握华语,因为华语不仅在国内使用,未来在国外也很有用,尤其是与崛起成为世界政治和经济强权的中国打交道。

在另一方面,我国的华裔学生也需要精通马来语,不仅仅是基础,而是能够与马来人和土著有效交流的程度,而这些也是身为国民的责任。

在这方面,砂拉越首席部长阿邦佐在2017年初承认统考并持续拨款给砂州华校。该政策允许拥有统考文凭的砂州人加入州公共服务领域并向砂拉越基金会申请教育贷款。此举是在联邦政府尚未承认统考时落实,并让砂拉越成为承认统考的先驱州属。在砂拉越甚至是全国各地,中文教育不仅得到华裔的认可,而是连土著都青睐的。

公平和公正的做法见让我国向前迈进。希盟和我们所有人都希望聪明的华裔子弟可以为国家的发展和进步做出服务与贡献。如果承认统考可以实现大部分人民的心愿,那么有什么理由不承认,并让这个课题继续在未来困扰著我们呢?好吧,从政治角度上来看,现在非常需要做出最终和大胆的决定,而不是停留在选举时为了赢取人心的政治口号。

英文版请點擊 Handling UEC issue with political willpower
【学者观点】作者 : 仄里尼博士
文章来源 : 星洲日报 2019-10-18

By Dr Jeniri Amir

The issue of UEC recognition has been like thorn in the flesh for both the Malaysian government and the local Chinese community.

Despite many promises made, the issue has not been settled in the least. There have been numerous narratives made, including emotional and unrealistic ones.

The issue of UEC recognition must not been seen from the perspectives of race or politics, but must be looked at with wisdom.

When Pakatan Harapan promised before GE14 to recognize the UEC certificate, sure enough it gave the local Chinese community as well as stakeholders a big hope.

The Chinese community and voters saw that eventually there was going to be light at the end of the tunnel for this chronic issue. However, it now appears that handling of this issue is not going to be easy, and the lack of government effort to bring UEC recognition to reality has disenchanted many people who have since become frustrated with the PH administration.

It's like sitting down here waiting for Musang King that refuses to fall from the tree. So, for how long more will the local Chinese community have to wait, or will they continue to be disappointed?

A detailed study on the recognition of UEC should have been ready for cabinet review in July but so far this has yet to be done.

The sensitivity in relation to this issue has resulted in it being repeatedly delayed, to an extent that it has developed into a controversial racial issue that benefits no one. It is imperative that the PH government seriously look into this issue. Otherwise, it will be perceived as nothing different from the previous BN administration. This is particularly relevant at a time the ruling coalition's public image and reputation have suffered badly as a consequence of non-fulfillment of its election pledges. PH must not be seen as indecisive and insincere, or it may have to face really grave consequences. It should bear in mind that this issue means a lot for the Malaysian Chinese community, and must not be perceived as a party that is only good at making promises but is not ready to honor them with all kinds of excuses.

The longer the delay, the worse it will be for Malaysians and the PH government, especially with several states already recognizing UEC, including Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Sabah and Sarawak.
The issue needs to be looked at professionally, objectively and with wisdom. No racial emotional factors must be entailed in this whole thing, or else there will be no way out for a solution that will benefit all quarters.

PH must have political audacity and wisdom in honoring the promises inscribed in its election manifesto.

Education minster Maszlee Malik has said his ministry hopes that there will be no more delays from the special committee on UEC in completing its final report for submission to the cabinet.

The committee's chairman Eddin Khoo was quoted last Wednesday as saying he would apply for deferment of the submission of the final report which should have been ready last Monday.

It is understood that the committee still h ave some 20% of work yet to be done before completing the report and proposals for the education ministry. The committee also needs more time to collect feedback from stakeholders such as MPs. A session to collect feedback from MPs will be held on October 16 before finalizing the report for presentation to the government.

Indeed there should not be any reason not to recognize UEC if it meets all the conditions stipulated, including a pass in Bahasa Malaysia in SPM. Such requirements are uncompromisable so as not to jeopardize national importance.

In view of this, the government needs to handle the issue with wisdom by taking into consideration the views of relevant parties.

The approach adopted must be one that benefits everyone and not one particular party.

Owing to the sensitivity of this issue, the Malaysian Chinese community needs to be more realistic that it is not possible for the government to satisfy all their requests because the education ministry needs to evaluate and make the right decisions based on the long-term benefits of the country in the context of our pluralistic society as well as the country's education system.

Local Chinese associations' requests will be met but not all of them, based on the input and proposals obtained from the special committee after meeting with various parties at grassroots levels.
What is important is that the government must do something that is best for this country without jeopardizing national aspiration.

The opponents of UEC recognition have seen it as contravening Article 152 of the Federal Constitution for directly undermining national aspiration of promoting unity among all citizens of this country through education. These people are of the opinion that UEC recognition will sabotage the national education policy besides eroding the superior status of the national language.

We need to take a forward move and make a bold, balanced and professional decision for the well-being of this country. Before a resolute and final decision is made, and as long as the issue continues to be politicized especially when the general election draws near, there is no way for us to move forward with certainty and confidence.

We must be seen by the world as a nation capable of making precise, bold and wise decisions for the good of this country and not to sweep the issue under the carpet as if it never existed, while in reality it is like the elephant in the room and the mother of all political issues.

In 1975, Dong Zong, an organization representing 60 independent Chinese high schools in the country, urged the government to allow these schools to conduct UEC examinations. During the initial stage, then education minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad rejected Dong Zong's request although he later approved it.

This issue must not become a burden to the country and be politicized in such a way that it hurts national solidarity and division in our multicultural society.

The principle of inclusiveness should become a strength for the education system in this country. Moreover, competency in multiple languages is definitely a prerequisite to ensure that an individual remains relevant in our modern world.

Our future survival is very much determined by the quality of education received by our people. If UEC is really good and needs to be recognized by the government, then why not?

We cannot afford to look at education of today and tomorrow from the scope of history and the past. We must come out from our narrow alley into the highway of tomorrow by acting outside our cocoon of history and race.

It is important that our Malay and bumiputra students should not just have a good command of the national language and English alone. They should strive to also learn the Chinese language which is not only relevant in this country but also the future world in view of the phenomenal rise of China as a global political and economic power.

Meanwhile, Chinese students in this country need to learn the Malay language in order to more effectively communicate with their fellow compatriots in the Malay/bumi community
Sarawak chief minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg declared in early 2017 that the state government would continue to recognize UEC and provide financial assistance to Chinese schools in the state, making it the first in the country to officially recognize UEC.

In Sarawak and even in the entire nation, it has to be recognized that Chinese language education is not exclusive for the Chinese community alone but also bumiputra students.

A fair and just education policy will enable the country to go much further from here. Sure enough the PH government and indeed everyone of us want the competent Chinese people to serve the country and contribute positively towards its development and continued progress.

If UEC can fulfill the aspiration of a big section of the Malaysian society, why doesn't the government decisively recognize it instead of keeping us continuously haunted by the same old issue in future?

It is utterly important that a final and bold political decision is made right now, not just as a political rhetoric meant to please the voters in the run-up to election.

( Dr Jeniri Amir is political analyst from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Unimas.)

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