The education minister, who has been criticised by Malay groups for appearing to support the demand for UEC’s recognition, said such a decision should not be made immediately despite being part of PH’s election manifesto.
“The education ministry will carry out research on the matter, get views from all sides and take into account the importance of Bahasa Malaysia and the harmony aspects of all races,” he said in a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat.
On Saturday, some 3,000 people gathered in Kuala Lumpur urging the government not to recognise the UEC.
Maszlee said the government would ensure that the national language would not be undermined with the recognition for UEC.
He also said the ministry had not allocated funds for independent Chinese schools as they were not under the national education system.
He added that the RM50 million allocated to Chinese schools under the 2018 budget would be distributed after taking into account the country’s financial standing.