Statement Released by Dong Zong
December 20, 2017
UEC Holders Can Apply for CLP Examination—
LPQB’s Decision Relieved Dong Zong
Through various channels, Dong Zong was informed of the decision of the Legal Profession Qualifying Board (henceforth LPQB) to continuously let UEC holders sit for the Certificate in Legal Practice (henceforth CLP) examination. In regard to this, Dong Zong comments as follows:
(1) Dong Zong had separately written to the LPQB on 23 and 30 November requesting a meet-up to find out the reason of revoking the requirements of the UEC and SPM as prerequisites to sit for the CLP examination. Administrators from Dong Zong simultaneously had met the president of the Malaysia Bar Council Mr George Varughese on 8 December and submitted some data on “UEC holders passing the CLP examination” to reflect the reality.
Attributed to the fact that many UEC holders had successfully sat for as well as passing the CLP examination with UEC certificate and SPM certificate and turning eventually into practicing advocates and solicitors, we wish to convey our appeal through Mr George Varughese urging the LPQB to revoke their decision and let UEC holders sit for the CLP examination using the UEC certificate and SPM certificate as prerequisite requirement.
(2) As updated by the president of Malaysia Bar Council Mr George Varughese, before 23 September 2005, all UEC holders applying for CLP examination must have the UEC certificate plus the SPM or STPM certificate and LLB (Bachelor of Law). To unify requirements to sit for the CLP examination as a practice, the LPQB had made adjustment and thus MICSS candidates sitting for the CLP examination must have (1) UEC certificate plus two credits in STPM/A Level; or (2) SPM certificate plus two credits in STPM/A Level.
In the capacity of president in the Malaysia Bar Council, Mr George Varughese is the ex-officio member of the LPQB. On 8 December, Mr George Varughese had promised to convey Dong Zong’s request in their impending board meeting to be held on 19 December to postpone the decision revoking all UEC holders to sit for the CLP examination in 2005.
In the meantime, Dong Zong had simultaneously written to all MICSS principals to collect and provide the information of UEC holders attending LLB currently on 22 November. Besides, Dong Zong likewise organised a forum on 12 December inviting advocates and solicitors, including affected students and parents to collect relevant information for further negotiation with the LPQB. In addition, Dong Zong also submitted a memorandum to the LPQB which attached information on the standard of the UEC urging the LPQB to revoke their decision accordingly on 18 December.
As it goes, Dong Zong has hitherto collected the information of 33 successful UEC holders sitting for the CLP examination of which 16 had become practicing advocates and solicitors. For the time being, 143 UEC holders are reading the LLP programmes or in the process of sitting for the CLP examination.
Dong Zong is indebted to Malaysia Bar Council president Mr George Varughese for his full support in conveying its views during the December 19 LPQB board meeting. Similarly, Dong Zong also would like to acknowledge all independent Chinese secondary schools, practicing advocates and solicitors, current LLB students and parents, etc. for their help in the provision of information, opinions and relevant matters during this indecisive period. Besides, Dong Zong will keep in touch with the LPQB for further updates on the development.