The Legal Profession Qualifying Board (“LPQB”) in its meeting held on 23 September 2005 had decided that the Unified Examination Certificate (“UEC”) is to be no longer recognised as a qualification equivalent to SPM and STPM, respectively, for purposes of application as candidates to sit for the Certificate In Legal Practice (“CLP”) Examination. In other words, an applicant who has a UEC is also required to possess a minimum of 2 principal passes at STPM or A-Level.
However, even after the decision in 2005, the UEC has always been accepted as a qualification for CLP examinations. The 2005 decision is never enforced and implemented, until very recently.
According to the Parliamentary written reply from Azalina Othman Said, Minister in the PM’s Department, LPQB decided to implement the decision in its meeting held on 7 December 2016. However, relevant education institutions only received notice about this decision few months ago.
The decision to not recognize UEC as a qualification equivalent to STPM or A-Level is too devastating for the UEC holders. This sudden enforcement not only affects prospective students but also current LLB students and LLB students who have graduated this year and are sitting in their CLP classes. All of them won’t be allowed to register for CLP.
Even if the LLB students wanted to retake A-Level or STPM after obtaining their law degree, LPQB still will not accept them for CLP as the regulations say that A-Level or STPM must be obtained before they get into law schools.
The only other option besides CLP for these UEC holders is the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) in UK, which could range from RM 80,000 to RM 120,000, excluding travel and living expenses.
I have met the President of Malaysian Bar Mr George Varughese, who is also a Director of LPQB on November 27, to explain the situation and the unfairness of this decision to him. I am happy that he shared my view on this matter and promised to bring up this matter in the LPQB BOD meeting on December 19.
And good news for all is UEC will continue to be recognized. The 2005 decision will not be enforced until LPQB reconsiders this issue in the future.
At here, I would like to record my deepest gratitude to Mr George Varughese for all his time, effort and assistance. Without him fighting for the UEC holders in the BOD meeting, it is hard to say if LPQB will listen to the plights of thousands.
However, until and unless UEC is accepted and recognized by our Government, this issue can reoccur anytime in the future.