14/12/2025

NATIONAL 3 theSun on Sunday DEC 14, 2025

Madani initiatives rolled out to safeguard welfare KUALA LUMPUR: Amid a turbulent global economy and the relentless rise in living costs, families across the country are feeling the squeeze.

recipients under STR have used their MyKad to purchase essential goods at registered outlets, with a 98% utilisation rate and spending totalling RM3.6 billion as of Nov 3. Meanwhile, for the RM100 Sara Appreciation scheme, over 83% of recipients have benefited, amounting to RM1.69 billion. To ensure the effective implementation of the programmes, the government is also strengthening collaboration with the private sector and NGOs through the Payung Rahmah initiative. One initiative under this strategy is Rahmah Sales, which sells essential goods at lower prices. Efforts to support the public also include ensuring access to petrol subsidies, a key concern among the M40 group. Relief came in September when the government announced that they would also be eligible for petrol subsidies. The Budi Madani RON95 (Budi95) initiative introduces a new approach to targeted petrol subsidies, ensuring that all citizens with a valid driving licence benefit, regardless of income. The initiative lowers petrol prices to RM1.99 per litre, compared with the market price of RM2.05, benefitting more than 13.1 million

In response, the Madani government has rolled out a series of initiatives to safeguard the wellbeing of citizens and ease everyday pressures. These initiatives aim to ease household expenses and strengthen the nation’s social safety net, ensuring the most vulnerable are not left behind. Key efforts include enhancing and expanding the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) schemes, which have been adjusted to reflect current living costs. STR is a cash-based aid programme, while Sara allows the purchase of essential goods using MyKad at selected outlets to ease the burden on those in need, with disbursements improved each year. Funding for STR and Sara has also been increased from RM10 billion in 2024 to RM13 billion in 2025, with the expanded eligibility covering low-income households, senior citizens and low-income singles. So far, more than 5.4 million monthly Sara

The initiatives aim to ease household expenses and strengthen the nation’s social safety net, ensuring the most vulnerable are not left behind. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

rationalisation measures. Efforts to support household living costs have also been strengthened through the Early Schooling Aid scheme for Year One pupils to Form Six students. – Bernama Certificate does not infringe on constitution: Dong Zong KUALA LUMPUR: The United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) has stressed that the UEC does not infringe on the Federal Constitution, and has played a role in supporting multilingual education and human capital development in Malaysia. In a statement, it said many of its graduates have contributed to various sectors of the economy after completing their studies. “The recognition of the UEC does not undermine the status of Bahasa Melayu as the national language,” it said. “Students from Chinese independent high schools are also required to learn Bahasa Melayu as part of their education.” Dong Zong appealed to all parties to approach the issue with an open and respectful attitude to jointly advance the development of national education. “The UEC has been administered for decades and continues to serve students from Chinese independent high schools nationwide. “The qualification is recognised by numerous overseas universities and institutions of higher learning, and has enabled graduates to further their studies and pursue professional careers both locally and abroad,“ it said. “Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim himself had publicly stated in 2018 that the recognition of UEC does not affect the country’s education policy and would not weaken the position of Bahasa Melayu as the national language.” Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Malaysians out of about 16.5 million eligible as of Oct 31. Budi95 has also contributed to national savings of over RM7 billion, as well as about RM400 million a month in savings through diesel subsidy

‘Focus on merits when assessing UEC’

Acknowledge certificate as part of broader strategy while setting clear conditions to align with national language goals, say experts

conditional recognition for the purpose of admitting trainee teachers into teacher training institutes for the Chinese language only. “Now, the demand is for full recognition of the UEC, similar to SPM and STPM, despite it having operated under conditional recognition for decades,” he said. Anuar stressed that all Malaysians, regardless of ethnicity, should support the national education system and work together to improve it. “If there are shortcomings, we should (provide feedback) and suggest improvements, but not with the intention of dismantling the system. ‘The goal should be to strengthen our national schools,” he said. Anuar added that Malaysia is unique in recognising vernacular schools as part of the national education stream, a system supported by legal rulings in Kota Bharu and Kuala Lumpur high courts in 2021. “UEC does not originate from the national curriculum, and leaders must show patriotism by strengthening national schools (SK and SJK) rather than fragmenting the system further,” he added. Recently, DAP deputy chairman Nga Kor Ming said his party plans to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to push for recognition of the UEC for entry into public universities. However, Anwar emphasised that any discussion on recognising the UEC or promoting other languages must respect the national language, whose position in the Constitution will continue to be defended. Anwar said while there are demands to emphasise English or recognise alternative certificates such as the UEC, the national language must remain the “language of knowledge” mastered by all Malaysians.

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

forward-looking society. Unity is built when all education streams operate within a common national framework, not when diversity is viewed as a threat,” he said Teh also said recognising the UEC would not conflict with Article 152 of the Federal Constitution, which upholds Bahasa Melayu as the national language. He said Malaysia has long recognised international qualifications such as A-Levels and the IB (International Baccalaureate), many taught in English, without affecting the status of Bahasa Melayu, and stressed that the medium of instruction should not be confused with respect for the national language. On whether alternative certificates should only be recognised after nationwide mastery of Bahasa Melayu, Teh said the approach is well-intentioned but neither practical nor consistent. He stressed that no education system waits for perfect outcomes before making policy decisions and that singling out the UEC would be unfair, as Malaysia already recognises international qualifications that do not require Bahasa Melayu. “A more balanced approach is to recognise the UEC while setting clear conditions to align with national language goals and evaluating it as part of a broader education strategy,” Teh said. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia education expert Dr Anuar Ahmad said the government does not need to fully recognise the UEC, which has been allowed to operate in Malaysian private schools since 1975. “In 2012, the UEC received partial or

PETALING JAYA: The debate over recognising the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) should focus on educational merits and national interest rather than politics, say educationists. National Association of Private Educational Institutions deputy president Dr Teh Choon Jin highlighted that the UEC is recognised by private universities in Malaysia and abroad, and that states such as Sarawak and Sabah have successfully incorporated it into state education and employment systems. He urged policymakers to evaluate the certificate within a broader educational framework, adding that framing the issue solely around language or politics risks polarising the discussion and overlooking student outcomes. “Malaysia has always operated within a diverse education landscape. “We already coexist with national schools, vernacular schools, international schools and universities that teach primarily in English. “Despite this diversity, our national identity has remained intact,” he said. Teh emphasised that Bahasa Melayu must remain the cornerstone of national identity, with mastery of the language continuing as a priority. He said at the same time, the practical reality of English as the global language of science, technology and international engagement cannot be ignored. “Appreciating multilingualism does not weaken unity, it reflects a confident and