The Education Ministry will assist medical graduates who do not have Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) Bahasa Malaysia (BM) qualifications to sit for only the BM paper in the SPM examination, said Deputy Education Minister Chong Sin Woon.

"As far as (the Ministry of Education) is concerned, we are there to help by (having) one exam to qualify them for public service," he said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

"We will do our part and allow these students to take just one SPM subject - BM - and not all six subjects, as required previously."

The six core SPM subjects are BM, English, Mathematics, Science, History and Islamic/Moral Studies, with BM and History being compulsory pass subjects to obtain the SPM certificate.

Chong also clarified that the requirements to join the civil service were set by the Public Service Department (PSD), and not his ministry.

This comes after several groups, including Umno Youth, spoke out against the PSD's decision to waive SPM BM requirements for medical graduates applying for house officer training in teaching hospitals.

The waiver has come under fire by various leaders and organisations, including Umno Youth, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Pertubuhan Warisan Melayu Negeri Johor, the Malaysian Muslim Youth Movement (Abim) and Kelab Umno Luar Negara.

They claimed the waiver would undermine the position of BM in the country...