Dong Zong Backs SPM Malay and History Mandate in Chinese Schools

PETALING JAYA: Mastering and valuing the Malay language is the responsibility of every citizen, says United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia Dong Zong chairman Datuk Tan Yew Sing. “We also support the continued strengthening of the teaching and learning of the Malay language across all education systems in the country in line with the spirit of the National Language Act 1963/67,” he said. Commenting on the launch of the National Education Plan 2026-2035 yesterday, which requires all schools, including international, religious and Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) stream schools, to offer Bahasa Melayu (BM) and History as subjects in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, he said Dong Zong agreed that passing BM should be a condition for UEC recognition. “In recent years, the pass rate for Chinese independent school students in the SPM BM subject has consistently remained above 96%,” Tan said. “Any claim that the Chinese independent school system marginalises or fails to place importance on the BM language is therefore a disregard for facts and an unfounded speculation.” He said students registering for SPM, including those from Chinese independent schools, are required under examination rules to take both BM and History. National Association of Private Educational Institutions deputy president Dr Teh Choon Jin welcomed the policy’s nation-building intent, but cautioned that rigid implementation could disadvantage students from international and UEC streams who are not familiar with the SPM syllabus. “What is needed is a proper transition, clear timelines, bridging programmes and support so the policy strengthens integration,” he said.