New requirement for UEC holders unreasonable and discriminatory

KOTA KINABALU - The imposition of the requirement of two passes at STPM or A-level as a prerequisite for Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) holders to sit for Certificate of Legal Practice (CLP) examination is unreasonable and discriminatory. 

"I am not certain whether that is strictly followed, as the information in the LPQB official website appears to suggest that an "equivalent" to two STPM or A-level passes is acceptable, and interestingly, it also says that UEC is accepted as an equivalent to STPM or A-level," lawyer Datuk Teo Chee Kang said when asked to comment on this new requirement by the media here yesterday. 

The Legal Profession Qualifying Board (LPQB) had made an announcement on June 5 last year to make it compulsory for UEC holders who would like to practise law to possess 2 STPM or A-level passes (no alternative allowed) on top of having a recognised law degree. 

"With UEC, one can go straight to university year one for law degree. 

It is unreasonable to compel UEC students to spend another one or two years for STPM or A-level before joining law schools. 

"Furthermore, UEC is a certificate that is awaiting recognition by the new government, though nobody has a clue for how long? The LPQB is trying to do the opposite," said Teo who is former Special Tasks Minister.