PUTRAJAYA, Dec 4 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today rapped the opposition for turning the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam, which was set to proceed as scheduled amid the floods, into a controversy.
Anwar said the controversy should not have arisen as the government had ensured the welfare of all students involved in the exam, and separate accommodation had been provided to facilitate their studies.
“It’s the decision of the MOE (Education Ministry) to proceed with the exams, but the opposition wants to exploit this issue. As you know, we have faced this issue for decades, and we have not postponed exams,” he said in his speech at the Ihsan Madani Fund Collection here today.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, had commended the authorities for providing temporary hostels for students affected by the floods, revealing that many students who stayed in these hostels had performed better in their examinations.
“I’m not suggesting that floods should happen every year. I’m just saying these ideas are not bad, but of course, the opposition has been (making controversy out of this issue), I have to remind them that this is an oral exam,” he added.
Anwar also thanked the various agencies, including the police, Armed Forces, Fire and Rescue Department and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, for their dedicated efforts in ensuring students can sit the SPM despite the floods.
He shared that during his visit to Terengganu, he inquired about the number of households contacted by the authorities and was informed that the authorities had compiled a comprehensive list of all affected homes and had reached out to ensure SPM candidates would be able to sit the exam.
“I was given assurance that 99.9 per cent of this year’s SPM candidates will be able to sit for the exam,” he said.
On Monday, MOE secretary-general Datuk Ruji Ubi reportedly said flood-affected 2024 SPM candidates are allowed to stay in hostels until the situation improves, making it easier for them to sit for the examination, which began Monday and runs until February next year.
He said the decision was made to ensure flood-affected candidates can sit the exam as scheduled.
— Bernama
